A former Gurnee police officer has been sentenced to probation after being convicted of beating his spouse, who prosecutors say he repeatedly threatened to kill, in Winthrop Harbor.
Michael E. Stoner, 37, of Winthrop Harbor, was charged in June 2020 with two counts of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and two counts of domestic battery.
The charges were based on two incidents, one on April 3, 2018, and another on November 2, 2019, where Stoner allegedly battered his spouse in Winthrop Harbor.
Assistant State’s Attorney Demetri Tsilimigras said during a bond hearing at the time the charges were filed that Stoner abused the woman dating back to December 2016.
“This defendant has consistently threatened this victim and tortured this victim over years. Threatened to kill this victim. Also, he has threatened to kill the victim’s father,” Tsilimigras said.
Tsilimigras said that an investigation showed Stoner tried buying a “murder kit” with items like Clorox bleach, a shovel, rope and plastic sheets.
Attorney Joseph Zeit, who represented Stoner in the case, said during an initial court hearing that his client was “vehemently denying these allegations.”
Stoner had been employed by the Gurnee Police Department as a patrol officer for over seven years.
The Gurnee Police Department said that Stoner was placed on administrative leave after they were informed of the allegations. He is no longer working for the department.
Stoner has been out on bond since July 2020 after posting 10% of a $40,000 bond.
A bench trial took place in May and Lake County Judge Christopher Lombardo found Stoner guilty of the two misdemeanor domestic battery charges.
Lombardo found Stoner not guilty of the three felony charges.
During a sentencing hearing early last week, Lombardo sentenced Stoner to 18 months of probation and 75 hours of public service.
Stoner was ordered to have no contact with the victim, not consume alcohol or illegal drugs, surrender his FOID card, not possess any weapons and abide by other probation conditions.