The owner of The Boatyard in Antioch has been released from custody after she was charged with felonies for allegedly stealing money from boat rental customers and committing forgery.
Kristen Wooden, 37, of Antioch, was first arrested in July following a confrontation with a boat renter at The Boatyard, located at 42125 North 4th Avenue in unincorporated Antioch.
The confrontation, which occurred over the renters crashing a double-decker pontoon boat, resulted in Wooden grabbing the customer’s phone, according to bodycam video obtained by Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
The video showed Wooden throwing the phone into the water as deputies were on the scene. She was charged with criminal damage to property.
Following that arrest, several victims came forward indicating they had been scammed by Wooden, who is one of the owners of the business, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
In early September, Lake and McHenry County Scanner reported that the sheriff’s office had launched a criminal investigation into Wooden for financial crimes and executed a search warrant at her business.
Covelli said last week that the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Unit conducted an investigation into the allegations and found Wooden committed forgery and several thefts.
Investigators learned Wooden submitted a false document when completing her business’ 2023 boat rental license application to the State of Illinois, Covelli said.
She submitted a document certifying that her fleet of boats was inspected by an independent boat repair service and was in safe and operable condition, Covelli said.
The certification had the name and signature of the manager of the independent repair center.
The investigation revealed that Wooden never had her fleet inspected by the independent repair center and she forged the signature of the manager of the center, Covelli said.
Around Labor Day Weekend, the Fox Waterway Agency suspended The Boatyard’s commercial watercraft privileges for numerous violations and non-compliance with the Fox Waterway Act.
After being made aware her boats were no longer allowed to be rented, sheriff’s marine unit deputies observed a boat believed to be owned by The Boatyard on the Chain O’Lakes.
Marine unit deputies stopped the boat and learned the occupants had just paid to rent the boat from The Boatyard.
A social media post circulated and an individual arrived at the scene claiming he had recently purchased the boat from The Boatyard, Covelli said.
The victim had documentation proving he was the owner of the boat and The Boatyard had no authority to rent his boat.
Covelli said it was determined that Wooden sold the victim the boat but refused to provide him with the boat’s title.
Another victim on July 17 rented a boat from The Boatyard but the boat began experiencing mechanical issues while on the Chain O’Lakes.
They returned to The Boatyard where Wooden disputed the victim’s claims. The victim returned to the boat and left.
Wooden unlawfully charged over $225 to the victim’s credit card, Covelli said.
Another victim on July 31 rented a boat from The Boatyard that was in poor operating condition.
When the victim returned the boat, they informed The Boatyard staff of some of the defects of the boat.
Covelli said the victim wrote a negative review about the experience they had with the boat, at which point Wooden charged the victim’s credit card $500.
Another victim, who had prior knowledge of boats, rented a boat from The Boatyard on August 19.
He immediately recognized an issue with the boat’s propeller and returned with the boat to speak with Wooden about the issue.
The woman was already in a heated argument with another patron. She told the victim that if he did not leave, she was going to call the police, Covelli said.
Covelli said the victim’s credit card was later charged by Wooden for extra cars being parked on her property, the damaged propeller and for “criminal damage to property – police called.”
Sheriff’s marine unit deputies reviewed the case with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday and the office approved charges of forgery, unlawful possession of a certificate of title and three counts of theft. The most serious charge is a Class 3 felony.
Deputies appeared in front of a judge who signed and authorized an arrest warrant for Wooden.
Deputies arrested Wooden on the warrant without incident at her home on Friday.
She was held in the Lake County Jail and appeared for a First Appearance Court hearing on Friday afternoon.
The offenses against Wooden are non-detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act and a judge released her following the court hearing.
The judge placed Wooden on Level 1 pre-trial services conditions and ordered her to have no contact with numerous people involved in the case.
Wooden, who hired defense attorney Mary Cole to represent her, is scheduled to appear in court again on May 16 for a status of preliminary hearing.