The last of four Wonder Lake teenagers charged in a cross-burning incident last fall failed to show up for a scheduled court hearing Wednesday.
Circuit Judge Ward S. Arnold revoked the $40,000 bond against David Moran, 19, and issued a $50,000 bench warrant against him for failure to appear.
Moran and three other teens were charged with placing a homemade cross on the lawn of an interracial Wonder Lake couple last fall and setting it ablaze.
Because the other defendants had previously pleaded guilty, it was expected that Moran would likely follow suit. No trial date had been set.
However, Moran’s case became more complicated after he was arrested June 23 by McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and charged with retail theft.
“As a general statement, not this case specifically, any time you have an additional offense while out on bond it will affect a sentence in a plea agreement negatively,” said James McAuliff, chief of the criminal division of the McHenry County state’s attorney’s office.
In the cross burning, Moran is charged with three felony counts: commission of a hate crime, intimidation and mob action. He faces up to 3 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Attempts to reach Moran’s attorney, Tom Carroll, were unsuccessful Wednesday.
His father, Terry Moran, declined to comment on the case. His family could lose the $4,000 bail they put up to free David Moran from jail.
The other three defendants, Kevin Brockett, 16; Kyle Brockett, 17; and Jonathon Kriske, 19, have already pleaded guilty to commission of a hate crime and other miscellaneous charges. All three received 2-year sentences.
