Woodstock man removed McHenry County state's attorney campaign sign, police say

CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake police charged a 51-year-old Woodstock man with theft after they said he took a sign belonging to state's attorney hopeful Patrick Kenneally while carrying signs supporting opponent Dan Regna on Tuesday.

Deputy Chief of Operations Tom Kotlowski said a man who supports Kenneally called police after seeing John Walsh, of the 16000 block of Route 14, removing the sign from the corner of Pyott and Rakow roads in Crystal Lake. Police were alerted to the incident just before 3 p.m., Kotlowski said.

Kotlowski said there were no other Kenneally signs in Walsh's truck, only those for Regna.

"He admitted to putting those signs up," Kotlowski said, adding he did not know if Walsh had replaced the sign he was accused of stealing with an opponent's sign.

Kenneally, a current assistant state's attorney, and Regna, a former assistant state's attorney, are competing for the Republican nomination for the office's top spot to replace Louis Bianchi, who is not seeking re-election.

Kotlowski said Regna told police Tuesday he was unaware of Walsh's activity.

The theft charge against Walsh is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by less than a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Kotlowski said Walsh posted bond and was released Tuesday.

[ Election Central: Republican primary for McHenry County's state's attorney ]