Man Accused of Shooting at Stranded Motorist in Darien Pleads Not Guilty

A Downers Grove area man pleaded not guilty Monday to four charges, including one felony, stemming from a Feb. 21 incident in which police said he in Darien.

John Kavan, 70, was arraigned on a class one felony charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm in the direction of another person or occupied vehicle. The charge carries a possible sentence of four to 15 years in prison, said DuPage County State’s Attorney spokesman Paul Darrah.

He also pleaded not guilty to three other charges, including reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault and intimidation.

Kavan, of the 500 block of Redondo Drive, confronted a driver whose car had run out of gas near the intersection of Bailey Road and Greenbriar Lane, Darien Police Chief Ernest Brown said at a Feb. 21 City Council meeting.

While the driver was waiting for a friend to return with gas, Kavan challenged him to start the car, Brown said.

The driver pulled away as Kavan fired a .38 caliber revolver, shattering the car’s back window, according to a release.

“Fortunately he drove away,” Brown said. “Otherwise we’d be dealing with a homicide instead of a broken window.”

Kavan is scheduled to return to court April 30.