Elgin man gets 9 years for selling heroin to undercover cop

A northwest suburban man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for selling heroin to an undercover police officer three times in one week.

Christopher M. Kanehl, 28, pleaded guilty Feb. 20 to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and delivery of a controlled substance, both Class 1 felonies, according to the Kane County state’s attorney’s office. Circuit Judge John Basanti sentenced him Thursday to nine years.

Kanehl, who lives in Elgin, delivered 10 plastic bags containing at least 1.1 grams of heroin to the officer outside a business in the 800 block of Randall Road at 7:45 p.m. Oct. 8, 2013, according to prosecutors. About 7:30 p.m. the next day, he delivered 17 bags containing at least 1.2 grams of heroin outside a business in the 200 block of Randall Road.

On Oct. 11, 2013, he delivered 13 more bags containing at least 1.2 grams of heroin to the officer outside a busy restaurant in the 100 block of North McLean Boulevard in South Elgin, prosecutors said. He was also ingesting heroin in his car at the time of third incident.

A warrant was issued for Kanehl’s arrest after the Oct. 11 delivery, and he was taken into custody Nov. 4, 2013, prosecutors said. He had 10 bags of heroin weighing at least 3.1 grams with him at the time of his arrest.

Kanehl received credit for at least 646 days served in the Kane County Jail while awaiting trial.