A man has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to firing shots at a party where multiple children were present, leaving a man with a gunshot wound near Harvard.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 12:54 a.m. on June 11, 2023, to the 8800 block of Reese Road in unincorporated Harvard.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Creighton said at the time that deputies received a call for shots fired at a party.
According to police radio traffic, a teenager called 911 to report the incident. The caller reported that several juveniles were present at the party.
Deputies along with officers from Harvard Police Department arrived at the property and made contact with three people outside a barn.
Creighton said one of the subjects was identified as the suspect, Daniel A. Morales, 41, who resides at the house on the property.
Deputies learned that Morales and another partygoer had a verbal argument.
Morales pulled a gun out from his waistband and fired a round into the ground inside the barn, Creighton said.
He then walked outside the barn and fired another round into the ground, Creighton said.
A male victim suffered a wound to his left foot and initially left the scene but returned when deputies arrived.
Creighton said the Harvard Fire Protection District responded to evaluate the victim and he declined transport to the hospital.
Morales was arrested and transported to the McHenry County Jail without incident.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved charges of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated assault with a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm.
The most serious charge, aggravated battery with a firearm, is a Class X felony that carries six to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Morales was released from jail following his arrest after posting 10% of a $100,000 bond.
Court records show he entered into a negotiated plea deal with the state’s attorney’s office last week.
Morales pleaded guilty to one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony, in exchange for the rest of his charges being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis approved the plea deal and sentenced Morales to two years of probation pursuant to the agreement.
Morales was also ordered to obtain an anger management evaluation and follow all recommendations.
A 180-day jail sentence was stayed and will not be imposed as long as Morales complies with his sentencing.