From the State’s Attorney:
CONVICTED FELON RECEIVES EIGHT-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR ATTEMPTING TO BRING FIREARM INTO COURTHOUSE
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that Jake Baraglia, 34, of Woodstock, Illinois, has been sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to Felon in Possession of a Weapon, a Class 2 Felony, and Resisting Arrest, a Class 4 felony.
Baraglia was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Tiffany Davis after entering a negotiated plea of guilty.
On July 7, 2025, Baraglia entered the McHenry County Courthouse carrying a backpack and proceeded through the security checkpoint.
During the screening process, court security officers identified what appeared to be a firearm inside the backpack.
Upon being confronted by security personnel, Baraglia immediately pushed court security officers, grabbed the backpack, and fled from the courthouse.
Court security officers immediately pursued Baraglia on foot as he ran from the courthouse and into a neighboring business complex.
During the pursuit, he jumped over a locked security gate to gain access to the interior courtyard of the complex in an effort to evade capture.
Security officers continued their pursuit and ultimately apprehended him within the complex.
A subsequent search of the area led officers to recover the firearm concealed underneath a bush in the courtyard where Baraglia had attempted to discard it while fleeing.
Because Baraglia had previously been convicted of a felony, Illinois law prohibited him from possessing a firearm, making his possession of the weapon a criminal offense.
State’s Attorney Freese praised the swift actions of the courthouse security officers whose vigilance prevented an armed individual from entering the courthouse.
“Our courthouse must remain a place where victims, witnesses, jurors, attorneys, judges, and members of the public can conduct the business of justice without fear,” said Freese.
“The professionalism, training, and quick response of our court security officers prevented a dangerous situation from escalating. Their actions demonstrate the critical role courthouse security plays in protecting everyone who enters our judicial system.”
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office thanks the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Court Security Division for its exceptional response and continued commitment to ensuring the safety of all who enter the courthouse.
The case was successfully prosecuted by Special Prosecutor William Bruce and Assistant State’s Attorneys Justin Neubauer and Zachary Sitkiewicz.
