Judge reduces bond in Crystal Lake punch slaying
A Crystal Lake man facing a first-degree murder charge alleging his sucker punch killed a man likely will go free today after a judge lowered his bond.
Dustin Goy, 30, will post $50,000 bond this afternoon, his lawyers said after a morning court hearing in which he formally pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a Sept. 9 altercation outside a Crystal Lake tavern.
Goy had been in custody at the McHenry County jail since turning himself in Wednesday night, just hours after a grand jury indicted him in the death of Anthony Carlsen, also of Crystal Lake.
The charge claims Goy knew or should have known he would cause death or great bodily harm when he struck the 45-year-old victim in the face during the early-morning fracas. Carlsen, authorities said, fell backward from the punch and hit his head on pavement, causing a fatal brain injury.
If convicted, Goy would be sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison.
In the most detailed account of the incident yet, Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Scott Kent said today that Goy and Carlsen were attending separate parties at the downtown Cottage tavern the night of the incident.
There is no indication of any altercation between the two groups inside the bar, but as Carlsen was leaving with three women words were exchanged outside the business between him and a group of four men that included Goy, a bouncer told investigators.
The verbal exchange turned physical and Carlsen was pushed down to the ground, Kent said. As he got up on his feet, Kent said, Goy punched him.
"The bouncer said when Goy hit him Tony wasn't talking to him, wasn't looking at him and had his hands at his side," Kent said. "Goy had nothing to do with what was going on.
"He appeared to be knocked unconscious by the punch itself, and that's why he hit his head the way he did," Kent said.
Authorities are still unclear on what caused the altercation or what was said between the two groups.
The decision to lower Goy's bond from $750,000 to $500,000 came after Kent and Goy's defense met with Judge Sharon Prather in chambers this morning to discuss facts surrounding Carlsen's death.
Goy attorney Todd Cohen said part of the discussion concerned toxicology results of blood taken from Carlsen after the incident. Cohen declined to say exactly what those results showed, but indicated the information likely would play a part in Goy's defense.
"We believe he is innocent," Cohen said.
Kent declined comment on the toxicology findings.
Goy, who also is charged with aggravated battery, is scheduled to return to court Jan. 24 for a pre-trial status hearing.