Burglary Suspect Flips Off Judge, Goes to Jail

McHenry County - Kane Kellett's unusual method of raising his right hand to be sworn in earned him a six-month contempt of court sentence in McHenry County Court over the weekend.

The 24-year-old Crystal Lake man, charged with home invasion, extended his middle finger as he was being sworn in before Judge G. Martin Zopp on Saturday.

At that point, a bailiff hustled him out of the courtroom, but Assistant State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally stepped forward and asked on behalf of the state that Kellett be held in direct criminal contempt.

The judge agreed, and gave Kellett six months, according to McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi.

Kellett, who had allegedly broken into an acquaintance's home and tried to bash him over the head with a flashlight, did not seem to be in a good mood.

"When they brought him out of the lockup he looked very unhappy. He was looking down all the time," Bianchi said. "The judge asked him 'Sir, do you have an attorney?' and he said 'F--- no.' "

The judge let that one go and asked Kellett to raise his right hand to be sworn, and "what he did then was flip off the judge," Bianchi said.

"I'm hoping that this sends a message to all those who appear before our judges here that they must show some respect for the court and the court system," Bianchi said.

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