Shaw not facing further charges

Twin Lakes woman held in Nevada jail

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

No additional charges will be filed against Sheree Ann Shaw, a Twin Lakes woman who was allegedly under the influence of heroin in a May 6 crash that killed McHenry, Ill., resident Amy Thornton, according to a McHenry County prosecutor.

Sheree Shaw
Sheree Shaw

Shaw, 45, is being held in a Clark County Jail in Nevada, after a June 22 arrest by U.S. Marshals, courtesy of a tip to local authorities.

She faces charges of aggravated driving under the influence causing death and, if convicted, could face between four to 26 years imprisonment, depending on the discretion of the presiding judge.

“We won’t be filing additional charges,” said McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs. “She is facing three to 14 years for the count that caused the death of the victim and a consecutive one to 12 year sentence for the count causing great bodily harm.”

Illinois statute implies truth in sentencing, which means serving a minimum of 85 percent of a prison sentence, he said.

In the May 6 incident, Shaw allegedly drove her Ford Taurus on North Richmond Road in McHenry, striking a Harley Davidson Road Glide motorcycle, occupied by Thornton and her husband.

Initially, Shaw faced a charge of driving without a valid license, but when Thornton died May 15 of injuries suffered in the wreck, prosecutors added the felony charge of aggravated driving under the influence causing death on May 20.

After McHenry Police failed to locate Shaw in Twin Lakes, they sought help from U.S. Marshals, who took her into custody on May 26 and transported her to the Walworth County Jail in Elkhorn.

The following day, Shaw posted a $2,500 cash bond and $10,000 signature bond.

Conditions of bond included no consumption of alcohol, no operating a motor vehicle and a requirement to make all court appearances, including a June 24 extradition hearing in Walworth County Circuit Court.

However, when Shaw failed to appear June 7 in McHenry County Circuit Court, authorities issued a warrant.

Following more than two weeks of searching, the Twin Lakes Police Department attempted to execute search warrant at her 147 Lance Drive apartment June 21, and in turn, received a tip from a local resident.

The next day, U.S. Marshals took her into custody in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, the June 24 extradition hearing in Walworth County has been closed, according to online court records.

“Attorney advises that she is currently in custody in Las Vegas…court reads newspaper article into the record which seems to indicate Ms. Shaw did not appear in (court) in Illinois,” the online court events record stated.

According to Clark County Court records in Nevada, Shaw is due for a July 27 extradition hearing, but Combs hopes to get her back to Illinois before that.

“I hope to have her brought back here to Illinois in two to three weeks,” said Combs via email June 30.


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