Man convicted of public gang fight in Elgin

Laron Henyard |photo from the Kane County Sheriff’s office

(ST. CHARLES) A northwest suburban man was convicted Tuesday of participating in a brawl outside an Elgin business in August 2013.

Laron Henyard, 29, was convicted June 24 of one count of mob actions, a Class 4 felony, according to the statement from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office.

About 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16, Henyard was one of several members from two different Elgin gangs involved in a fight in a parking lot in the 600 block of Villa Street, prosecutors said.

When police arrived, all of the participants had dispersed, but most of the fight was captured on video and police were able to identify eight suspects, including Henyard, prosecutors said.

After Henyard was arrested, he admitted the two gangs had been involved in an ongoing violent feud for several years, prosecutors said.

But once charges were filed, the gang members agreed to stop fighting because of the high bail amounts associated with their arrests. Henyard was initially held on $20,000 bond, prosecutors said.

Henyard, of the 1200 block of Mallard Drive in Elgin, is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 20 for motions and sentencing, prosecutors said. He faces a sentence of either probation or between one and six years in prison.

Seven other participants charged in connection with the fight have either pleaded guilty or are awaiting trial, prosecutors said.