Prison for man accused of trying to blow up Algonquin home

A former Algonquin man was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to a pair of felony charges, one alleging he tried to blow up the home of his girlfriend's father after being told he was not welcome there.

Derrick J. Thomas, 23, admitted guilty to charges of attempted arson and attempted unlawful delivery of a controlled substance filed in connection with separate incidents over the past 12 months.

Besides the prison time, Thomas must also pay a $600 fine and $200 restitution.

In exchange for the guilty plea, McHenry County prosecutors dismissed several more serious felony charges.

The attempted arson claim stems from a Nov. 29 incident in which, prosecutors said, the owner of a home in the 10000 block of Wilmette Avenue in Algonquin came home to find Thomas leaving the residence.

Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Philip Hiscock said the man went inside to find four natural gas stove burners running with the flames extinguished.

When later questioned by police, Thomas admitted turning on the burners, but claimed he was trying to cook soup, Hiscock said.

Outside of court Monday, Hiscock said he does not believe the soup explanation, but could not comment on Thomas' possible motive.

The drug charge stemmed from an investigation into crack cocaine trafficking in the Algonquin area last year that also snared Thomas' girlfriend, Erin L. Carriveau, 24, and her brother, Paul M. Carriveau, 21.

Charges against all three alleged they conspired sell the drug in and around the Carriveaus' father's home.

Erin Carriveau pleaded guilty to two felony drug charges last week and was sentenced to six months in the county jail and two years probation.

Paul Carriveau pleaded guilty in August to one felony drug charge and was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months probation and fines and court costs of $3,995.