A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempted murder in a stabbing attack that left two victims critically wounded and a third injured in Crystal Lake.
Charles A. Hightower, 40, of the 1900 block of Wyndham Lane in Rockton, was charged with two counts of attempted murder, a Class X felony, and three counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, Class 2 and 3 felonies.
The Crystal Lake Fire/Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded on the evening of October 24, 2019, to the 100 block of Edgewood Avenue for a report of three people stabbed.
Police officers found two men with stab wounds to the abdomen and a third man with minor lacerations to his arm, Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said at the time.
Paramedics transported the two men with stab wounds to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. The third man was released from medical care at the scene.
One of the men hospitalized was later flown by helicopter to another hospital for additional treatment. Both of the men were in critical condition.
The offender, identified as Hightower, fled the scene before police arrived.
Responding officers quickly located the man and took him into custody without incident, Kotlowski said.
Police called it an “isolated incident” related to a domestic issue.
Hightower has been free on bond since November 2019 when he posted 10% of a $350,000 bond days after his arrest.
Hightower entered into a negotiated plea deal on Thursday with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Court records show Hightower pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing his less serious battery charges.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt approved the plea deal and sentenced the man to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the first count and nine years on the second count.
The sentences will be served one after another for a total of 15 years in prison. The sentence will be required to be served at 85% in accordance with Illinois truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
Hightower was taken into the custody of the McHenry County Jail on Thursday.