Trial for Quincy man facing three counts of first-degree murder set for January docket

QUINCY — The trial for a Quincy man facing three counts of first-degree murder has been set for the January jury docket.

Devere S. Gholston, 27, made a brief appearance for a status hearing in Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon with public defender John Citro before Judge Debra Wellborn. Another status hearing was set for Nov. 28, and a pre-trial hearing was set for Dec. 19.

Citro and assistant state’s attorney Josh Jones both told Wellborn they did not expect more discovery in the case.

The three first-degree murder charges are Class M felonies. Gholston faces between 35 years and 75 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if he is found guilty on any of the murder counts. 

Gholston also faces a charge of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and a charge of robbery, a Class 2 felony.  He could receive between four and 15 years in the DOC on the burglary charge, and he could receive between three and seven years in the DOC on the robbery charge. He also could be fined up to $25,000 on each count.

Gholston entered a not guilty plea in April. 

Judge Scott Larson set on Aug. 3 for Gholston’s jury to begin Nov. 7. However, Wellborn filed an amended order on Aug. 4, setting the start of the jury trial for Oct. 11. Citro told Wellborn at a Sept. 7 status hearing he couldn’t be ready for trial because public defender Babs Brennan would be on leave for most of September.

Gholston, 27, and Hayden Schmidt, 16, were arrested on Feb. 17 after the beating death of Schmidt’s grandfather, 67-year-old Robert Schmidt, at his home at 3219 Gross Gables. Gholston and Hayden Schmidt both allegedly struck Robert Schmidt in the head with a firearm to cause his death.

Gholston is in the Adams County Jail on $10 million bond. Hayden Schmidt is in the Adams County Juvenile Detention Center on $10 million bond.