Man Stalking High School Acquaintance Charged With Felony: Police

GENEVA, IL — A 31-year-old South Elgin man is facing felony stalking charges, accused of harassing a Geneva woman who he sat next to in high school, Geneva police said.

Daniel J. McSweeney, of the 600 block of Lor Ann Drive, was arrested Oct. 18 and charged with stalking as well as aggravated battery of a police officer, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property, the latter three in connection to incidents from 2020, according to Shaw Media.

McSweeney began contacting the woman through text and social media messaging in May 2021, according to police. She blocked his phone number and social media accounts, by default deleting his messages, but he instead created fake profiles in an attempt to contact her, Geneva police said in a report.

In the messages, McSweeney asked her to spend time with him, but the woman didn't engage him. The two sat next to each other in a class in high school but weren't friends, according to the report.

The woman also told police McSweeney called and left her voicemails from blocked numbers in hopes of speaking with her.

Around 9:24 p.m. Sept. 18, police arrived at a house in Geneva where the mother of the woman being harassed told an officer that her daughter continues to be harassed by an old high school acquaintance, identified as McSweeney.

Her daughter wasn't there but was able to speak to the police on the phone, according to the report.

Earlier that evening before police arrived, McSweeney went to the house wanting to see the woman but was told she wasn't interested in speaking with him, so he left without incident, the report said.

Geneva police learned from St. Charles police on Sept. 20 that the night before, police found McSweeney sitting in his car in a driveway of a St. Charles home. He told police he was waiting for the woman since "she invited him to 'hang out' five years ago," the report said. The woman told police she never invited him.

According to police, the woman's family has not owned the property in St. Charles for at least 10 years.

The woman knew of the occurrence since McSweeney had sent her several messages, the police report said. After the two incidents, police said the woman was "emotionally distressed."

Three days later, on Sept. 23, Geneva police learned McSweeney contacted South Elgin police and offered an officer money to give him the woman's address. McSweeney also told the officer he "did not need to do so while on duty," which the officer declined, the report said.

The man also left $110 in the mailbox of another St. Charles house, where friends of the woman's family live, on Sept. 27. He left without speaking to anyone but returned later to tell the homeowners the money was for the woman, and they asked him to leave.

When Geneva police talked to McSweeney later that day, telling him his stalking that was causing the woman emotional distress and fear for her safety, he was confused why she contacted the police, the report said. Police said he became "very agitated" and said he was done looking for her because he couldn't believe she would invite him over and then call the police.

The woman applied for an order of protection against McSweeney, which he was served on Sept. 30.

The Kane County State's Attorney approved two stalking charges against McSweeney Oct. 7. A warrant was issued for his arrest Oct. 11, and he was taken into custody Oct. 18.

The South Elgin man is currently being held at the Kane County Adult Justice Center on a $125,000 bond.

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