Teen sent to prison for torching McHenry restaurant

A Wauconda teen was sentenced Friday to 4½ years in prison after admitting he and two friends burglarized and torched a popular McHenry eatery earlier this year.

Kasimer Sowa, 17, of the 300 block of High Street, pleaded guilty to a felony arson charge in connection with the Feb. 9 fire that gutted Joey T's, a landmark restaurant along the Fox River.

Under a plea deal struck with McHenry County prosecutors, Sowa also must pay a $500 fine and a share of about $238,000 restitution to the business' owners. Prosecutors dismissed burglary and theft charges as part of the agreement.

Authorities said Sowa and former Joey T's employee Brian C. Lawler, 18, of South Bend, Ind., smashed their way into the restaurant with a baseball bat about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 9 while a third friend waited outside as a lookout.

Once inside, they began removing a safe, ATM, liquor and laptop computer. Sowa later told police that on the way out he saw Lawler spraying a liquid around the restaurant and then noticed the business on fire, Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Philip Hiscock said,

Sowa attorney Steven McArdle indicated Friday that, as far as his client was concerned, burning down Joey T's was never part of the plan.

"There is nothing in any (evidence) I've seen that shows this was a prearranged plan to commit an arson," McArdle said.

Lookout Joseph L. Drews, 19, of McHenry, pleaded guilty to an arson charge in August and was sentenced to six months in jail and two years probation, along with a share of the restitution.

Lawler is awaiting trial on arson, burglary and theft charges. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 16 for a pretrial status hearing.

Sowa still is facing charges in Lake County in connection with a January burglary of an Island Lake gas station.