Lake in the Hills man gets second chance after drug arrest

A Lake in the Hills man charged with dealing drugs out of his home after tips from vigilant neighbors is getting a second chance.

Jason A. Gallagher, 33, recently pleaded guilty to the reduced misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana and was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to perform 30 hours of community service, according to McHenry County court records. He also must pay $1,755 in court fines and fees under a plea agreement approved by Judge Gordon E. Graham.

Gallagher originally faced charges of felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and other misdemeanors after McHenry County Sheriff's deputies last summer seized 125 grams of pot and 38 pills of Diazepam, also known as Valium, from his home on the 1100 block of Poplar Street. Authorities said an estimated $1,400 in drugs were seized from Gallagher after "multiple tips" were provided by suspicious neighbors.

Defense attorney John Lyke said the agreement gives Gallagher a chance to live his life without a felony conviction,

"He learned his lesson. He made mistakes," Lyke said. "In negotiations, there's give and take on both sides."

If Gallagher violates his probation, he could be resentenced to up to a year in jail.

Save the date:

Aurora police officers and support personnel will be trading their badges and vests for aprons and serving platters on Wednesday, Aug. 6 when they stage "Tip-A-Cop" to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois.

From 5 to 9 p.m., the officers and other police employees will be waiting tables at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1460 N. Orchard Road, Aurora, collecting money and selling merchandise for Special Olympics.

Police will donate their tips, and Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 10 percent of all food and beverage purchases to the cause. Patrons must tell their server that they are there for the Special Olympics fundraising to trigger the 10 percent donation.

So far this year, police and support personnel have raised more than $11,000 for Special Olympics.

Crash settlement reached:

A confidential, out-of-court settlement has been reached in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed after David A. Schele Sr., a 61-year-old Sugar Grove man, was killed in a February 2013 crash in Batavia.

Craig Schindlbeck, 61, of Oswego, pleaded guilty in August 2013 to making an improper left turn on the eve of a bench trial, according to court records.

Judge Edward Schreiber recently dismissed the lawsuit, with the settlement going to Schele's adult son, David.

hhitzeman@dailyherald.com