Taxi Driver Solicits Prostitute, Gets Ambushed at Crystal Lake Motel

A taxi driver looking to employ a prostitute walked into a room full of attackers March 5 at the Crystal Lake Motel.

William Reynolds, a 52-year-old Woodstock resident and owner/driver for Yellow Metro Cab, claimed to that he was called earlier in the day by a female who offered to have sexual intercourse with Reynolds, along with another female, in exchange for money.

According to police, Reynolds said that he drove to the , was invited in expecting to have a sexual encounter and upon entering Room #201 he was attacked by numerous individuals who were hiding inside. Reynolds claimed he was kicked and punched about the head and body by several male subjects who displayed knives and demanded money. Reynolds offered them additional money but stated that he would need to take them to his bank.

According to police, Reynolds was escorted out of the motel and led to his vehicle, where his attackers allowed him to get into the vehicle. Without allowing his attackers to enter his vehicle, Reynolds started his taxi and immediately fled the scene.

A witness claimed that as the taxi cab fled the area it appeared to strike one of the subjects who had attempted to gain entry, knocking her to the ground.

Reynolds claimed the individuals pursued him westbound on Virginia Street in another vehicle, but stopped following and turned onto North Shore Drive, at which time he called police, according to police.

Within minutes of the initial call, officers located the suspects and a vehicle matching the description provided by the witnesses, according to police. All seven of the alleged offenders were taken into custody and the subsequent investigation resulted in all seven being charged.

Charged were:

• James E. Zavorski, 18, of 325 Van Buren in Crystal Lake; William J. Zavorski, 21, of 110 N. Virginia Street in Crystal Lake; and Brandon M. Stevens, 21, of 2204 Edgewood Drive in Woodstock were charged with one count of aggravated battery, one count of mob action and one count of robbery.
• Patricia E. Stoneburner, 21, of 14411 Kishwaukee Valley Road in Woodstock was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Austin M. Busse, 28, of 110 N. Virginia Street in Crystal Lake was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
• A 17-year-old female juvenile of Woodstock was charged as an adult for robbery and a 17-year-old male juvenile of Crystal Lake was charged as an adult for one count of aggravated battery, one count of mob action and one count of robbery.