Blanke to remain in Adams County Jail; judge says mental health evaluation will give ‘more of idea of what’s going on here’

QUINCY — A Quincy man will remain in the Adams County Jail while he waits for a mental health evaluation to be completed.

Jack R. Blanke is facing a charge of criminal trespass to real property, a Class B misdemeanor punishable in Illinois by up to two years of probation, a fine of up to $1,500 and up to six months in the Adams County Jail. He made his first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court before Judge Zachary Boren on Monday afternoon with Assistant Public Defender Sarah Lucey.

At about 1 a.m. Sunday, deputies were dispatched to 5505 N. Bottom Road regarding a suspicious person captured on surveillance cameras near a horse barn. Upon arrival, deputies canvassed the pasture and found Blanke allegedly standing near two horses with his genitals exposed.

Blanke also learned Monday about a petition to revoke probation. He had agreed to a sentence of 24 months of probation on July 7 after pleading guilty to a Class 4 felony of criminal damage to property. 

Blanke was arrested on April 28 for having sex with a horse. He allegedly was caught mid-coitus by Adams County Sheriff’s Department deputies and charged with unlawful sexual contact with an animal, a Class 4 felony, and criminal trespassing, a Class B misdemeanor. 

The state dropped those charges when he pled guilty to criminal damage to property and accepted the 24-month sentence of probation.

However, he violated his probation with Sunday’s incident.

The criminal damage to property charge is punishable in Illinois by up to 30 months of probation, a fine of up to $25,000 and a sentence from one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Parker suggested a $20,000 bond for Blanke. He also asked for Blanke to stay off the North Bottom Road property and stay away from horses. He said Blanke’s cases have “almost identical factual similarity.”

“And here we are again,” Parker said. “Given that we’re just a few weeks removed from him being placed on probation for the exact same thing, I think it would be appropriate for the defendant to be ordered to have a mental health valuation while awaiting treatment.”

A lack of criminal history and the fact Blanke only had $70 in general assistance funds led Lucey to ask for a bond of $1,500.

“This is not the crime of the century that would require such an immensely high bond as the state has asked for,” she said. “Blanke has always appeared in court. He has always been cooperative with court orders. I have no doubt he will absolutely comply with any of the court’s order. He is living nearby and has lived there for the past five years. Coming to court is not going to be an issue in the future.

“I certainly wouldn’t go so high as to admit that $20,000 Is anything close to fair.”

Instead, Boren set the bond at $2,500 on the new case and $35,000 on the old case. Blanke would have to post $3,750 (10 percent) to be allowed out of jail.

First, however, Boren said ordering a mental health evaluation and directing Blanke to follow recommended counseling is “absolutely appropriate.” He also concurred with Parker’s recommendation for Blanke to “have absolutely no contact with any horses or the property at 5505 N. Bottom Road.”

“In light of these facts, I would personally be most interested in seeing a mental health evaluation and the results before going any further,” Boren ruled. “If I or some other judge took a look at the mental health evaluation, we would have more of an idea of what’s going on here. But the facts here, certainly, have a protection of the public element and a protection of yourself element.”

Christopher Pratt, who was Blanke’s public defender in his first case, also was assigned to his latest case.

Blanke will return to court on July 31.