Sentencing delayed for McHenry car dealer

A McHenry car dealer convicted of torching his dealership to collect on an insurance policy will remain free on bond while a judge decides whether to give him a new trial.

John T. Krawec, 46, of the 4300 block of North Richmond Road, was convicted in November of paying a former employee to burn down his dealership in April 2006 so Krawec could get more than $500,000 in insurance money.

McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather was set to hand down a sentence Friday and rule on Krawec's motion for a new trial.

But Prather said she will need more time to sift through the competing claims and evidence regarding the motion, and delayed a decision on the motion - as well as possible sentencing - until April 30.

In support of a new trial, Krawec's new attorney, Wayne Brucar, argued that the strategy of Krawec's attorney during his trial amounted to "an abandonment of the defense."

Brucar tried to show Krawec's former attorney did not challenge a key witness and crucial evidence, advised him against testifying when it could have contradicted some of prosecutors' evidence, counseled him against a jury trial and did not discuss the case in depth with his client.

In particular, Brucar pointed to the testimony of Philip Brakefield, the prosecution's key witness who is the former employee who claimed Krawec paid him to torch the dealership, asking why Krawec's then attorney did not try to suppress Brakefield's testimony, despite his alleged history of substance abuse.

"It looks as though he was just going through the motions," Brucar said.

Philip Hiscock, chief of the criminal division for the McHenry County State's Attorney's office, attempted to show the attorney did not have grounds to challenge the witness, informed his client of his right to testify and have a jury trial and had numerous conversations with Krawec about his case.

"He appeared to have a good grasp of the case," Hiscock said.