Man accused of threatening to shoot minors in Crystal Lake released while awaiting trial

Aaron Pittner

A man accused of threatening to shoot children outside Crystal Lake South High School last week was released from custody last week. While in custody, however, he is prohibited from having any contact with the school or minors and from possessing a weapon.

Aaron Pittner, 29, who court documents say lives in Crystal Lake but is homeless, is charged with aggravated disturbance of the peace by threatening a school building or persons, according to the criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court.

During the detention hearing Friday, McHenry County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Gregorowicz argued that Pittner should be taken into custody because he poses a danger to the community. The prosecutor said Pittner was near the high school when eight teens rode their bikes across campus. He allegedly indicated that he had a gun and was going to shoot them or get a gang to shoot them, Gregorowicz said.

Gregorowicz also noted that Pittner has been convicted twice of aggravated assault, each time receiving a prison sentence. He argued that Pittner poses a threat to community safety and “has a history of violent behavior … against people he doesn't even know.”

“It’s dangerous to let him roam the streets of McHenry County,” Gregorowicz said.

Deputy Public Defender David Giesinger said Pitner denied threatening anyone, did not have a weapon on him and did not display one when he encountered the teens.

The children “felt subjectively threatened, but he took no steps to actually harm them and he did not have a firearm,” he said.

Judge Carl Metz said that while the evidence against Pittner was strong, he did not believe it rose to the level of threatening to cause great bodily harm, which is a warrantless offense under the SAFE-T Act.