Judge: McHenry car dealer paid man to burn facility

A McHenry used car dealer is facing up to 15 years in prison after a judge found him guilty Friday of paying a former employee to torch his dealership so he could collect more than a half-million dollars in insurance proceeds.

John T. Krawec, 45, of McHenry, will be sentenced Jan. 22 on charges of residential arson, conspiracy and insurance fraud stemming from the April 24, 2006, fire that gutted his All Truck Stop dealership, 3021 W. Route 120, and an apartment above it.

McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather convicted Krawec of the felonies Friday, saying evidence presented during a trial conducted over several days since June proved him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

"The state has met their burden of proof," she said.

Authorities said Krawec was in deep financial difficulty when he had the dealership set on fire, hoping to collect about $524,000 from insurance.

The case rested largely on the testimony of Philip Brakefield, a former Krawec employee who said his ex-boss paid him $1,000 - with a promise of more money to come - if he set the dealership on fire. Brakefield never was charged because of his cooperation with authorities.

Krawec's defense said Brakefield, a felon, was not a credible witness, a belief Prather did not fully dispute Friday. However, she said, other evidence - including recordings of phone conversations between Krawec and Brakefield after the fire - corroborated his testimony.

Krawec attorney Michael Johnson later said he respects the judge, but disagrees with her verdict.

"To give any credibility at all to Philip Brakefield is really a stretch," Johnson said. He also disputed claims Krawec was in dire financial straits at the time of the fire, saying his problems "were not enough to do what he's charged with doing."

Krawec remains free on bond until his sentencing.