Former McHenry Co. Detective Let Woman Drive His Squad Car While He Was Drunk: Court Documents

By Sam Borcia, Lake & McHenry County Scanner

New court documents say a now-former McHenry County sheriff’s detective, who is facing charges for allegedly arranging drug and prostitution deals, allowed a woman to drive his squad car while he was intoxicated.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Detective Christopher Marvel, 39, of Poplar Grove, was charged on February 15 with eight counts of official misconduct, two counts of solicitation of a sexual act and one count of attempted defrauding a drug screening.

A criminal complaint detailing the charges against Marvel alleged he committed official misconduct on September 2 and September 8 “while acting in his official capacity and with the intent to obtain a personal advantage for himself” when he “performed an act in excess of his lawful authority.”

Marvel used a cellphone belonging to McHenry County to discuss the terms of a prostitution deal with a woman for which the two would be financially compensated, the complaint said.

Marvel additionally on September 2 and September 8 engaged in conspiracy to commit prostitution with the same woman, the complaint said.

The complaint said Marvel committed official misconduct on September 7 when he used his county-issued phone to “coordinate the acquisition of cocaine” and to reimburse himself extra money not used in the purchase. The offense also occurred on September 13.

The defrauding a drug test charge against Marvel stemmed from events that occurred from October 8 to October 10 where Marvel allegedly coordinated with a woman to obtain a child’s urine so that the woman could defraud a drug test, the complaint said.

The complaint said the solicitation of a sexual act charges against Marvel occurred between October 11 and October 21 when Marvel allegedly offered a person something of value in exchange for a sexual act

A grand jury on Thursday returned a 12-count indictment charging Marvel with an additional count of official misconduct.

The indictment said Marvel was acting in his official capacity and had the intent to obtain a personal advantage for himself when he performed an act in excess of his authority on September 16.

That act involved Marvel allowing a woman to drive him from Harvard to Woodstock in a police car owned by the county, the indictment said. Marvel was intoxicated at the time, the indictment added.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office administration was notified on September 16 of the “off-duty incident” involving Marvel, the office said in a statement. Marvel was immediately placed on administrative leave as a result, according to the sheriff’s office.

The agency opened an internal investigation in accordance with their department policy.

Marvel resigned on December 21 before the internal investigation was completed.

The Illinois Training and Standards Board was notified of his resignation in accordance with the SAFE-T Act, the sheriff’s office said.

The Illinois State Police and McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office investigated and reviewed the case before the charges were filed.

“The Sheriff’s Office holds each of its employees to a high standard of expectations. Each personnel matter is investigated on a case-by-case basis to ensure we continue to provide professional services to the community,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement last month.

“While Marvel failed to rise to the level of expectations we have set forth, we want to also remind our community that we have a dedicated team of deputies who do continually serve the community, promoting safety and equal protection for all,” the statement added.

The sheriff’s office directed all questions on the matter to the Illinois State Police and McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The Illinois State Police declined to release any information on the case.

Sources told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Marvel was taken into custody and processed on the charges on February 16, the day after the case was filed.

He was released from the McHenry County Jail as the charges against him are non-detainable.

Marvel is scheduled to appear in court again on April 19 for an arraignment hearing following the grand jury indictment this week.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.