Algonquin father, kids busted in drug raid
An Algonquin dad and his two teenage children were arrested today after an early-morning drug raid at their home netted cocaine, marijuana and evidence of drug trafficking, McHenry County Sheriff's police said.
Family patriarch Roger A. Sheetz Jr., 38, faces 10 narcotics charges, including seven felonies, alleging he possessed and planned to deal about 20 grams of cocaine and 200 grams of cannabis out of his residence at 1142 Cary-Algonquin Road.
His children, Roger A. Sheetz III, 19, and Brittany M. Sheetz, 18, each face multiple misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia as a result of the 5:30 a.m. raid by members of the sheriff's SWAT and narcotics units. Brittany Sheetz also faces two misdemeanor possession of cannabis charges over a small amount of marijuana police say they found in her bedroom.
Sheriff's police said deputies also seized $700 in cash, along with scales and drug packaging materials.
The raid was the culmination of a month-long investigation sheriff's police initiated after neighbors complained of numerous parties and a large amount of traffic coming and going from the residence, Lt. Donald Carlson said. During the investigation, Carlson said, sheriff's police obtained enough evidence for a search warrant.
The children are not facing any drug trafficking charges, though investigators suspect they were aware of their father's activities.
"They would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not know there was dealing, and they certainly were not deaf, dumb and blind," Carlson said.
The children's mother also was at the residence this morning, though she only recently moved back to the home after an absence and is not suspected of any wrongdoing, Carlson said.
Deputies serving the warrant this morning came upon five pit bulls when entering the Sheetz home but no officers or dogs were harmed. The dogs, Carlson said, are now in the care of Sheetz family members.
After his arrest, deputies transferred the elder Sheetz to the McHenry County jail, where he remains in custody pending a court hearing to set his bond Thursday morning. His children were expected to post $100 cash bond and go free later today.
The most serious charge against Roger Sheetz Jr. is a Class 1 felony, which is punishable by a maximum four to 15 years in prison. The charges against his children are punishable by a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail and a $2,500 fine.