Man pleads to reduced charge in stalking case

A Schaumburg man accused of stalking a Gurnee woman pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Wednesday in Lake County circuit court.

Timothy Schroeder, 29, was placed on probation for 18 months after pleading guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Assistant State’s Attorney Reginald Matthews said Schroeder, of the 600 block of Newbury Court, was arrested July 28 by Gurnee police. A 21-year-old woman had reported a Chevrolet Monte Carlo had trailed her for three-quarters of a mile as she jogged on at least three occasions between June and July.

The woman was able to give police a description of the car and a partial license plate number, Matthews said, and police stopped the car for speeding about two blocks from her house.

Schroeder originally told police he was looking for an apartment to rent, Matthews said, but they rejected that story because there are no apartments in that neighborhood.

Schroeder was originally charged with felony stalking, but Matthews said he agreed to reduce the charge because of Schroeder’s willingness to plead guilty and his lack of prior convictions.

The Gurnee woman was consulted on the plea negotiation, Matthews said.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman also ordered Schroeder to make a $500 contribution to Lake County Crime Stoppers as part of his sentence.

Matthews said Schroeder could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison if convicted of the original charge.