NEWS

Daily Herald, May 19, 2008:

Isaac Chambers

 McHenry High student pleads guilty to groping lunch lady

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 5/19/2008 1:32 PM | Updated: 5/19/2008 9:12 PM

A McHenry High School student charged with a felony for grabbing the breast of a school cafeteria worker pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Monday that allows him to avoid both a felony conviction and any more time behind bars.

Isaac Chambers, 18, instead will spend two years under court supervision and pay a $1,000 fine and perform 80 hours community service as part of a plea bargain in which he admitted guilt to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from the March 14 incident at McHenry High's East Campus.

Authorities charged Chambers with felony aggravated battery that day, alleging he touched the woman "in an insulting and provoking nature." Chambers spent a night in the McHenry County jail before family members posted his bond the next morning.

His attorney, George Kililis, said the incident was nothing more than a case of his client showing poor social judgment. The touching occurred when Chambers and the worker were "goofing around" and there were no sexual overtones to it, he said.

"He's a great kid that comes from one of the nicest families in town," Kililis said. "This is one of those kids that's going to make all of us proud one day."

School officials disciplined Chambers after the incident, but declined to say what actions were taken against him. Kililis said his client was still attending classes.

The initial charge against Chambers, elevated to a felony because the woman he touched is a school employee, was punishable by a maximum two to five years in prison.