Algonquin man sentenced to work at fire station for false alarm at school

An Algonquin man who created some extra work for firefighters when he set off a false alarm at Jacobs High School now has to return the favor after pleading guilty to a reduced charge Monday.

Blake B. Bieber, 21, was ordered to perform 40 hours of public service at the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District as part of a plea deal in which he admitted guilt to an attempted disorderly conduct charge stemming from the October 2006 incident.

Bieber, of the 500 block of Amberwood Court, must also spend one year on probation, pay a $500 fine and pay $500 restitution to the fire district. The deal also includes a 30-day jail sentence, but he will not have to serve that time unless he violates the terms of probation.

Bieber's community service task was the fire district's idea, said Nichole Owens, criminal division chief for the McHenry County State's Attorney's office.

"It's appropriate that the defendant contribute to the fire department, since that's who he inconvenienced when he committed his crime," Owens said.

Bieber, a former Jacobs student, initially was charged with felony disorderly conduct for the Oct. 16, 2006 incident in which, authorities said, he pulled an alarm inside the Algonquin school building, forcing firefighters to respond. The charge was reduced to the misdemeanor attempted disorderly conduct as part of the plea deal.