A man was sentenced to six months in jail in connection with a drug-induced homicide for selling heroin that caused the death of a U.S. Army veteran in Woodstock.
Michael F. Walach, 64, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was charged in July 2023 with drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony.
He was arrested in August 2023 and ordered held in the McHenry County Jail on a $250,000 bond before later being released on pre-trial conditions.
The charges against Walach were filed following an investigation into the death of Stefan J. Bruckner, who was found dead in his Super 8 Motel room in Woodstock on January 19, 2022.
McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Brodersen said a baggy of tan powder that tested positive for pure heroin was recovered from Bruckner’s motel room. A rolled-up dollar bill was next to the bag.
The coroner ruled Bruckner’s death was from the adverse effects of morphine. Heroin breaks down into morphine in the body.
Bruckner, 45, of Hebron, was a patient at the time of a local addiction recovery service.
An employee at the service called authorities to perform a well-being check on Bruckner after not hearing from him, Brodersen said.
Bruckner had last spoken with his girlfriend on January 15, 2022, at which time he said Walach and another man had come to visit him.
Phone records showed that Bruckner asked Walach on January 14, 2022, for “dope,” which is slang for heroin, Brodersen said.
Brodersen said the two arranged for Walach to bring the “dope” to Bruckner for $160.
Bruckner texted “see you soon” to Walach on January 15, 2022.
Walach is a convicted felon with two prior convictions for manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance. One of the convictions resulted in a nine-year prison sentence.
An obituary for Bruckner said he was a father of two and an honorable U.S. Army National Guard.
“He was a tremendously talented mechanic and prided himself in working for Woodstock Harley Davidson. He was a kind and generous man, always willing to help anyone in need,” the obituary said.
Walach, who was released from jail pending trial, appeared in court on Thursday and entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for his other more serious charge being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt approved the plea and sentenced Walach to 180 days in jail and four years of probation.
He will receive day-for-day credit for the jail sentence and credit for time already served.