Rockton man charged with attempted murder in Crystal Lake stabbings

A Rockton man was charged with attempted murder after Crystal Lake police responded Thursday night to stabbings in a domestic attack.

Charles A. Hightower, 38, faces two counts of attempted murder and a felony count of aggravated battery in connection with an attack at 7:29 p.m. at a residence on the 100 block of Edgewood Avenue, according to Crystal Lake police.

"There was an ongoing dispute with one of the victims and the offender. It was domestic-related," said Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski, who added he could not elaborate on the nature of the dispute. "There is no danger to the public. It was an isolated incident. This wasn't a random act."

Authorities said officers found two male victims at the scene with stab wounds in the abdomen and another victim with minor cuts to his arm.

The two men stabbed in the abdomen - one in his 70s and the other in his 40s - were taken to a hospital and are in critical, but stable condition, according to Kotlowski. The third man was treated and released at the scene.

Hightower, who was not injured, was not at the house when police arrived but was arrested a short time later during a traffic stop, Kotlowski said. Authorities recovered a knife, Kotlowski said, but he did not have additional information on the weapon.

Hightower is next due in court Saturday morning for a bail hearing. If convicted of the most severe charge of attempted murder, he faces a sentence ranging from six to 30 years in prison with no chance of probation.