McHenry Co. dad arrested with kids in drug sting gets 6 years

An Algonquin Township man was sentenced to 6 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge that stemmed from claims he sold cocaine and marijuana out of the home he shared with his two teenage children.

Roger A. Sheetz, Jr., 39, admitted guilt to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver as part of a plea bargain in which McHenry County prosecutors agreed to dismiss eight other drug charges against him.

Sheetz must also pay $6,000 in fines and court fees under the terms of the deal.

Authorities filed the charges after the McHenry County Sheriff's Department raided Sheetz's home at 1142 Cary-Algonquin Road on Oct. 17, 2007, and discovered cocaine, marijuana, packaging materials, scales and other evidence drugs were being sold out of the residence.

Also arrested in the raid were his children, Roger A. Sheetz III, 20, and Brittany M. Sheetz, 18, on multiple misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia. Brittany Sheetz also faces two misdemeanor possession of cannabis charges over a small amount of marijuana police say they found in her bedroom.

The cases against both remain pending, but their father in court Wednesday claimed every illegal item found by police belonged to him.

"He took full responsibility," his attorney, Mark Gummerson, said. "It was all his."

The children never were charged with selling drugs, though police said at the time they believed the teens were aware of their father's activities.

The raid was the culmination of a monthlong investigation sheriff's police began after Sheetz's neighbors complained of numerous parties and a large amount of traffic coming and going from his home, police said.

Sheetz will be eligible for day-for-day credit while serving his sentence, meaning he could be up for parole in about three years.