No jail for man guilty in homeless shelter stabbing

A homeless man convicted of stabbing another homeless man as he slept inside a Crystal Lake area shelter last year avoided a possible 10-year prison sentence Friday and instead will get a chance to start over in northern Wisconsin.

Anthony Kolak, 40, was sentenced to six months in jail and two years of conditional discharge, a sentence term that clears the way to move in with family members out of state once his jail time is up.

"I have a chance to live in a home, which I haven't had in five years," Kolak said during his sentencing hearing. "I have a chance for a job, which I haven't had in five years."

Kolak pleaded guilty March 26 to a charge of aggravated battery stemming from the Dec. 4 incident at the McHenry County PADS facility in a church on the 3400 block of Walkup Road.

Authorities said the stabbing occurred shortly after an argument between the men ended with Kolak promising, "I'm going to settle this later." About 30 minutes later, authorities said, Kolak approached the victim as he slept on a cot and stabbed him with a small pocket knife, leaving him with a three-quarter-inch cut on his stomach.

Prosecutors on Friday asked for a five-year prison term, noting that it was Kolak's third conviction for aggravated battery.

"This was a cowardly attack on a vulnerable victim, a victim who was asleep in a homeless shelter," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney David Metnick said.

One his jail term is complete, Kolak plans to move in with a cousin from northern Wisconsin who testified Friday that she will welcome him into her home.