Man gets jail, counseling in attack on teen

A Round Lake man will be in jail for the next 18 months when he is not attending mental health counseling as a result of his guilty plea Monday in an attack on a teenage girl.

Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips also sentenced Todd Morowski, 29, to 30 months on probation after accepting Morowski’s plea to unlawful restraint.

Assistant State’s Attorney Steven Derue said a 14-year-old girl was walking to Round Lake High School around 7:15 a.m. on Nov. 17. As the girl passed Morowski’s residence in the 100 block of Washington Street, Derue said, Morowski approached and asked her for help with something.

The girl said no and continued to walk away, but Morowski grabbed her by the arm and told her she was being followed and he wanted to help her.

The girl struggled with Morowski, Derue said, which drew the attention of people nearby who intervened and called police.

Morowski was originally charged with unlawful restraint and child abduction, both of which carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

But Derue agreed to drop the child abduction charge in exchange for Morowski’s plea to unlawful restraint.

Phillips also ordered Morowski to take all medications prescribed for him while he is on probation and ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service.