A Prospect Heights man is facing a prison sentence for stealing a truckload of rat traps from a trucking company.

Andrew A. Schwartz

According to a Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release, Kane County Associate Judge Charles E. Petersen on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, found 31-year-old Andrew A. Schwartz guilty of the offenses of Theft, a Class 2 felony, and Forgery, a Class 3 felony.

Petersen heard testimony in the case on June 24 and June 25.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelli Schmidt and Jake Matekaitis presented evidence that on Sept. 29, 2017, Schwartz, a contract truck driver for J.B. Hunt Transport Services, picked up a truckload of rat traps valued at $27,616 from an Elgin business with instructions to deliver the rat traps to Ohio.

Instead, Schwartz left the traps at the home of an acquaintance in Wauconda, and Schwartz reported to J.B. Hunt that he had delivered the rat traps to the Ohio destination.

Petersen set Schwartz’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 13, 2019, in Courtroom 305 at the Kane County Judicial Center for motions and to set a sentencing date. Schwartz faces a sentence of probation or between six and 30 years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Schwartz faces enhanced sentencing guidelines because of his criminal history.

Schwartz remains free on $5,000 bond.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release