Quincy man who threatened girlfriend with gun pleads guilty in exchange for 8-year cap on sentence

QUINCY — A Quincy man pleaded guilty to one count of domestic battery and one count of attempted armed violence in connection to a February incident.

In exchange for his plea, Tyler J. Hopping agreed to have any sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections capped at eight years. Charges of armed violence, possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card, unlawful possession of a cannabis sativa plant and resisting or obstructing a peace officer also were dismissed.

Hopping, 32, will be sentenced June 8 by Judge Roger Thomson.

Charging documents show Quincy police responded to a call at 4 a.m. Feb. 5 at 2207 Spruce on the report of a disturbance in progress involving a firearm. Alessandra Stellino called 911 to report Hopping, her boyfriend, had threatened her. She claimed he put a gun to her chest and pushed her out of the house. She also said another male roommate was still inside the residence.

Police responded to the scene, took Stellino to safety and eventually removed the male roommate from the residence. However, Hopping refused to come out of the house.

The Quincy Police Emergency Response Team and Quincy Police Crisis Negotiation Team were called in to assist. Hopping surrendered to police at 6:45 a.m. without incident, and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

Public Defender Chris Pratt made a request for Hopping to be released on a recognizance bond until sentencing. He said a review of Hopping’s history showed only one prior violent offense, an assault case more than 10 years ago in Bellview, Texas.

“There was no harm to anyone (on Feb. 5),” Pratt said. “It was resolved peacefully. There was no harm to any individual.”

Pratt also said Stellino told him she wanted Hopping sentenced to probation to get help for mental health and substance abuse issues.

Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler objected. He said he hadn’t yet heard of what kind of counseling had been set up or where Hopping is going to live.

“My problem is he stuck a gun in her chest, he pushed it in her chest, and he pushed it until she exited the residence,” Eyler said. “We have issues involving mental health. Any time you interject a gun into the situation, bad things can happen. That is problematic. That is concerning.

“I think the victim wants him to receive probation, but we’ve got to make sure we have everything in place to give everybody the chance to succeed the most.”

Thomson said if Stellino wants Hopping to receive probation, “her telling me that from her mouth (during sentencing) is going to go a long way to (Hopping) getting what you’ve requested.”

“As of today, you went from being presumed innocent of these charges to being guilty of these charges,” Thomson added. “So I’ve lost that presumption of innocence. I want to get you to your sentencing so some services are available to you.”