BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP MAN GUILTY IN DOMESTIC DEATH

FELONY CONVICTION CARRIES POTENTIAL PRISON SENTENCE

July 26, 2017

A Burlington Township man awaits a judge’s sentence following his conviction in a domestic incident that led to his father’s death 17 months ago in northeastern Kane County.

Daniel M. Rak

A Kane County jury on Tuesday, July 24, 2017, convicted 31-year-old Daniel M. Rak of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony.

Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that on Feb. 11, 2016, at the residence the Raks shared in the 13N block of Engel Road, Burlington Township, Daniel Rak knowingly struck Jeffrey Rak, his father, multiple times in the face and head, breaking his nose.

After one of the punches, Jeffrey Rak, exclaimed, “My nose!” Daniel Rak later acknowledged that he saw blood coming from his father’s nose, and that for two days after his father continued to hold a rag to his nose.

At about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 14, 2016, Daniel Rak found his father unresponsive on the floor of his downstairs bedroom and called 911. When emergency responders arrived at the residence Jeffrey Rak was unresponsive, his face and head showed bruising and swelling, and dried blood was seen on his face.

He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Daniel Rak admitted to police that he was angry and struck his father in the head multiple times because his father walked into a bathroom occupied by Daniel Rak’s girlfriend.

Rak is free on his promise to appear in court.

Circuit Judge Donald M. Tegeler, Jr., set Rak’s next court appearance for 9 a.m. July 28, 2017, for status. Judge Tegeler set Rak’s sentencing hearing for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 8, 2017. Rak faces a sentence of probation or between two and seven years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

“This jury for six days observed and listened to evidence and testimony, weighed the facts, determined this defendant’s actions toward Jeffrey Rak to be criminal, and found Daniel Rak to be responsible for his actions. We thank them for their commitment to the public’s role in the criminal justice process, and for refusing to accept attempts to minimize Daniel Rak’s violent behavior. Domestic violence is at the root of far more deaths than most people realize. Regardless of what fuels their violence, domestic abusers must be held accountable,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.

“Many people deserve thanks for their hard work in this complex case: the Kane County Sheriff’s detectives and Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, who investigated the case, Assistant State’s Attorneys Alexander Bederka and Lori Anderson, who prosecuted the case, and Assistant State’s Attorney Deb Lang, who tackled a number of important related civil court issues. This conviction would not have been possible without their unwavering commitment to justice.”