Fox Lake man pleads not guilty in shooting
A Fox Lake man accused of shooting a rival gang member in the head pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.
Bowen Rice, 23, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of aggravated battery of a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
Assistant State's Attorney Steven Derue said Rice, of the first block of Rushmore Road, was part of a group of rival gang members near a gas station at Forest and Grand avenues in Fox Lake on April 19.
The rivals exchanged antagonistic words, police said, and Rice took out a small caliber handgun and shot a 40-year-old McHenry man in the head.
The victim was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was treated for a few days and released.
A warrant was issued for Rice and he was arrested about a month later after a botched burglary in Barrington.
He is charged with burglary and possession of marijuana in Cook County, but was transferred to Lake County to face the more serious charges.
Court records also show Rice was sentenced to five years in prison in 2006 after being convicted of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Associate Judge Daniel Shanes scheduled a trial of the case for Jan. 3. Shanes ordered Rice, who is held on $500,000 bond, to appear in court Nov. 8.