Trial for Quincy woman pushed back to March as state’s attorney’s office waits for lab reports

QUINCY — The trial for a Quincy woman allegedly involved in a carjacking, kidnapping and burglary in November in Adams County has been pushed back to March.

Karen Blackledge, 33, was in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning for what was expected to be a pretrial hearing. However, Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office, had filed a motion to continue as he waits for lab reports from the state.

Chief Deputy Public Defender Chris Pratt objected to the continuance. However, the delay doesn’t take the case outside the 120-day speedy trial window.

Blackledge has pleaded not guilty to two counts of home invasion, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, all Class X felonies, and residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. 

If convicted on the charges for home invasion, kidnapping and vehicular hijacking, Blackledge faces prison sentences of between six and 30 years on each charge. She must serve 50 percent of those sentences according to Illinois’ truth in sentencing laws.

If convicted of the criminal sexual assault charge, Blackledge faces a prison sentence of between 16 and 40 years. She would have to serve 85 percent of the sentence for this charge.

If convicted of the residential burglary charge, Blackledge also faces a prison sentence of between six and 30 years because of previous convictions.

Blackledge is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing on Feb. 15. Her pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 25, and her case is now on the March 7 jury docket.

Blackledge continues to be held in the Adams County Jail on $5 million bond.