Crystal Lake man guilty of manslaughter in one-punch killing

Rejecting claims it was an act of self-defense, a McHenry County judge today found Dustin Goy guilty of involuntary manslaughter for throwing a punch that killed a man during a fracas outside a Crystal Lake bar.

Goy, 32, of Crystal Lake, turned his head and gazed up at the ceiling as Judge Sharon Prather read the guilty verdict. He now faces up to five years in prison - though probation also is possible - when sentenced on the felony charge Dec. 2.

The ruling, which followed a three-day trial this week, came down to whether Prather thought Goy reasonably believed he had to strike Anthony Carlsen during the Sept. 8, 2007 altercation in order to protect himself or others.

The judge instead ruled that Goy acted recklessly, and as a result Carlsen, 45, of Crystal Lake, was killed.

"There was no evidence in this case to show Anthony Carlsen in any way acted as an aggressor toward Dustin Goy," Prather said, "The defendant did not act in self-defense, but rather he acted in retaliation and revenge."

Family and friends of Carlsen hugged and wiped aside tears outside Prather's courtroom after the verdict. His widow, Lili Carlsen, declined to comment on the decision, saying: "It isn't over yet."

Goy, who will remain free on a $50,000 bond until sentencing, and his attorneys also declined to comment.

Goy punched Carlsen during a confrontation involving several people outside The Cottage, a tavern in downtown Crystal Lake. The punch, witnesses said, knocked Carlsen unconscious immediately, causing him to fall back, strike his skull on the pavement and suffer a fatal head injury.

McHenry County prosecutors described the blow as a "sucker punch" that Carlsen never saw coming. Physical evidence indicated Carlsen was struck behind the left ear, they said, showing the blow came from his side.

"The location of the injury indicated (Carlsen) was blindsided, which is inconsistent with self-defense," said Nichole Owens, criminal division chief for the McHenry County State's Attorney.

Defense lawyers, however, noted that even prosecution witnesses testified that Goy was walking away from the confrontation when Carlsen - who was five inches taller and 130 pounds heavier - pursued him and two of his friends.

Carlsen, the defense said, shoved down one of Goy's friends and then turned on Goy himself, leaving him no choice by to throw a punch in self-defense.

Goy initially was charged with first-degree murder, but prosecutors dropped the charge last week and decided to pursue him on the involuntary manslaughter charge instead.

Owens said the prosecutors' office intends to seek the maximum 5-year sentence, noting that evidence indicated Goy was looking for a fight on the night of the incident and showed no remorse after the punch.

"Hopefully, people will think twice (in similar situations)," she said. "This was senseless."