Crystal Lake man admits threatening to wreck rival's SUV if not paid $4,000

A Crystal Lake man was ordered to perform 100 hours community service and placed on nonreporting probation for two years after pleading guilty Monday to allegations he threatened to wreck a rival's SUV if he didn't pay him $4,000.

Stephen A. Narish, 23, of the 3400 block of Kilkenny Drive, also must undergo an anger evaluation and make a $1,000 donation to Crime Stoppers as part of a plea deal in which he admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge of attempted intimidation.

Narish initially was charged with felony intimidation after the Aug. 14, 2007, incident in Cary in which, police said, he demanded $4,000 from an acquaintance in exchange for not damaging his Dodge Durango.

His attorney, Philip Prossnitz, said the incident was one of two young men saying things they didn't mean in the heat of the moment.

"There is a long-standing spat between these two," Prossnitz said. "Tempers flared and ridiculous things were said."

Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Simeon Kim confirmed that the victim, a 20-year-old man, was informed of the proposed plea deal before Monday and did not oppose it.

As part of the deal, prosecutors dismissed misdemeanor disorderly conduct, aggravated assault and resisting arrest charges alleging that, on the day after the first incident, Narish harassed the victim, then struggled with and threatened the Cary police detective who arrested him.