Sentencing continued for Spring Grove man convicted in fatal 2016 DUI crash

A judge on Friday reluctantly agreed to delay the sentencing of a Spring Grove man who was convicted of driving under the influence in connection with the June 26 death of a 33-year-old woman.

Ryan Heineman appeared in court Friday afternoon beside two defense attorneys – one of whom told the judge he needed more time to review the transcripts from Heineman’s trial.

Heineman's sentencing in connection with the death of former McHenry woman Tanya McDonough originally was scheduled for March 29. McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather continued the hearing to Friday, however, after Heineman hired a second attorney to look over his post-trial requests.

On Friday, the matter again was continued to June 12 so Heineman’s new attorney Raymond Wigell could familiarize himself with the details of the trial.

In addition to having his sentencing hearing continued twice, Heineman’s case previously had been continued 25 times at his lawyers’ requests, Prather said.

Heineman could be sentenced to as many as 14 years in prison for driving under the influence the morning McDonough was thrown from his Jeep and died. He would be required to complete at least 85% of the prison term under Truth in Sentencing guidelines.

He has been in custody at the McHenry County Jail since Prather revoked his bond March 29.

After a four-day trial, a jury convicted Heineman on Feb. 25 of aggravated driving under the influence.

Defense attorney Martin Lascola said prosecutors couldn’t prove that Heineman was driving that morning because investigators never reconstructed the crash and no witnesses saw Heineman driving immediately before the crash occurred.

Hospital staff testimony, however, revealed that Heineman suffered seat-belt-related injuries that suggested he was in the driver’s seat.

McDonough and Heineman were neighbors and hosted guests at their separate homes in celebration of McDonough’s 33rd birthday June 25, 2016, witnesses testified at trial. The party led into the next morning, when a confused Heineman called McDonough’s family and said he’d been in a crash.

Police determined that Heineman crashed his vehicle into a tree on Route 12 east of Sunset Road while his blood alcohol content was 0.150%. He was taken to the hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. McDonough was pronounced dead at the scene.