A judge sentenced a gunman to 15 years in prison for firing a shot after a female resident interrupted a burglary in progress at her home in rural Harvard where she found two masked suspects inside.
John P. Walker, 21, of Belvidere, was charged in May 2025 with armed violence, residential burglary, possession of a weapon with a previous forcible felony conviction and theft over $500.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Walker committed a residential burglary on February 12, 2025.
Walker entered a house in the 25700 block of Perkins Road in unincorporated Harvard with the intent to commit a theft, the complaint said.
The complaint said Walker stole property belonging to the husband and wife who live in the residence.
A cigar humidor box, a Dell laptop, the female resident’s passport, and a credit card were stolen.
The complaint said Walker was armed with a gun during the burglary, which was witnessed by one of the residents.
Walker fired the gun during the incident, the complaint said, adding that the firearm was not discharged in the victim’s direction. A 9mm shell casing was recovered.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident around 5:25 p.m. on February 12, 2025.
One of the victims called 911 and reported she had just gotten back home when she encountered two male suspects wearing ski masks, with one of them firing a shot.
She reported the suspect vehicle, a Jeep, was fleeing eastbound on Perkins Road.
Walker was charged in May 2025 and an arrest warrant was issued for him. He was taken into custody on October 1.
The second suspect was identified as Nicholas J. Bower, 38, of Loves Park. He was charged with residential burglary, felon in possession of a weapon, theft over $500 and identity theft.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Walker pending trial following his arrest.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petition during an Initial Appearance Court hearing after Walker and his counsel stipulated to the petition and did not argue for his release.
Prosecutors said Bower and Walker entered the home through the garage while the residents were gone but the situation escalated when the homeowners returned and encountered the masked suspects.
Walker and his accomplice fled the residence while displaying a firearm, prosecutors said.
A joint investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office led to Walker’s identification.
Key evidence, including cell phone analysis, confirmed his involvement, prosecutors said.
Court records show Walker entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
He pleaded guilty to one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, in exchange for the rest of his charges being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis approved of the plea deal on Thursday and sentenced Walker to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections pursuant to the agreement.
“This is the kind of crime that could happen to anyone. A homeowner’s nightmare to walk into your own home and see two masked men, one with a gun,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.
“We are grateful no one was physically harmed. Thanks to the swift and coordinated work of law enforcement, we were able to identify the offender, hold him accountable, and ensure he cannot put other families at risk for a long time to come,” she said.
The case against Bower remains ongoing.