Felony drug charges dropped against teen

McHenry County authorities dropped felony drug charges Wednesday against a former Lake Zurich teen accused of participating in a major narcotics trafficking ring last year.

Kelly L. Gawron, 18, had faced two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance stemming from an investigation that led to the arrest of four other suburban residents, two of whom are now in prison.

The four-month investigation uncovered an operation in which, McHenry County sheriff's police said, the suspects were purchasing heroin, Ecstasy, Oxycontin and Methadone in Chicago, bringing it to Fox River Grove, Island Lake, McHenry and other Northwest suburbs, then re-selling the drugs at a higher price.

However, Gawron's attorney said Wednesday that evidence showed her participation in the ring involved only her unknowingly driving one co-defendant to a drug deal on one occasion.

"She had no knowledge that any criminal activity was taking place," Senior Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof said.

The dismissal Wednesday leaves just one of the five defendants' cases pending. Tiffany R. Patrick, 20, of Ingleside is expected in court next month on two Ecstasy-related charges.

Last month the ring's suspected leader, William T. Clinge, 27, of Glendale Heights was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to two heroin charges. In March, Troy D. Petras, 20, of Barrington received an eight-year prison sentence after admitting his role in the ring.

Prosecutors last month dismissed charges against William C. Berard of Lake Zurich.