Crystal Lake man gets six years in prison for home invasion
A Crystal Lake man jailed last year after showing a judge his middle finger in court added a few more years onto his time behind bars after pleading guilty Wednesday to allegations he broke into an acquaintance's home and assaulted two people inside.
Kane E. Kellett, 25, was sentenced to a six-year prison term as part of a plea deal in which he admitted guilt to home invasion in connection with the Oct. 14 incident that began, his attorney said, as a dispute over drugs.
Kellett, who also must pay $1,750 restitution stemming from that and other offenses, will receive day-for-day credit while serving the sentence, meaning he could be paroled in less than three years.
Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney David Johnston said the plea deal was appropriate given the circumstances surrounding the home invasion.
Added Kellett attorney Raymond Flavin: "It gives him the best chance to be released quickly and start a new life."
Kellett, a former member of McHenry County's Top 10 Most Wanted, was arrested by Crystal Lake police Oct. 30 on multiple felony charges stemming from altercations Oct. 13 and 14 in the city.
On Oct. 13, police said, Kellett attacked an "obviously" pregnant acquaintance by punching her in the face and kicking her in the ribs when she went down to the ground. The woman's baby was not harmed, police said.
The next day, police said, Kellett forced himself into an acquaintance's home on the 100 block of West Woodstock Street and assaulted a 23-year-old man and a woman with a flashlight.
During a court appearance the morning after his arrest, a judge asked Kellett to raise his right hand to be sworn. Kellett instead raised his middle finger and swore at the judge, earning himself a six-month jail sentence for contempt of court.
As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dismissed charges of aggravated battery to a pregnant person and aggravated assault stemming from the violent incidents and unrelated charges of burglary, theft and possession of heroin.