Eyler files motion for substitution of judge after Quincy man facing two Class X drug felonies gets pretrial release

QUINCY — A motion for a substitution of judge was filed with the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office on Thursday after a Quincy man facing two Class X felonies was given pretrial release on Wednesday.

Matthew Steinkamp, 40, was in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with Public Defender Kevin Bross for a status hearing before Circuit Judge Holly Henze. 

Henze had ordered on Aug. 28 that Steinkamp was to be released to Clarity Healthcare for a 30-day inpatient treatment program and be returned to the Adams County Jail once the program was completed. During Wednesday’s hearing, Henze learned Steinkamp had completed treatment and gave him pretrial detention.

First Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler filed his motion to replace Henze on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Steinkamp must continue wearing a GPS monitor and remain confined at his parents’ home in Quincy.

The Illinois State Police conducted a traffic stop in Quincy on Feb. 12. A canine assisted during the stop and found a large amount of methamphetamine, leading to Steinkamp’s arrest.

Charging documents filed the next day in Adams County Circuit Court show Steinkamp was charged with one count of methamphetamine tracking for knowingly bringing from Missouri more than 400 grams but less than 900 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, and one count of unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine of more than 500 grams but less than 900 grams.

Each count is a Class X felony. If found guilty by a jury, Steinkamp could be sentenced to between 24 and 100 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the methamphetamine tracking charge and between 12 and 50 years in prison on the unlawful possession charge. He also could be fined $600,000 in the tracking case and $300,000 in the possession case.

Steinkamp’s next appearance in court is listed as a status hearing before Henze on Oct. 23.

Eyler also has filed a motion for substitution of judge in the Tynell Washington case. 

Washington is scheduled to be arraigned by Henze in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Oct. 9. He is one of four men arrested in connection to a Nov. 5, 2023, burglary along North Bottom Road. 

He has been charged with:

• Residential burglary, a Class 1 felony.
• Unlawful possession of a stolen weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony.
• Unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, a Class 2 felony. 
• Armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony.

Washington also faces charges for his involvement in another incident on Nov. 5. Eyler said in a Sept. 7 sentencing for Ashton Summers that when Quincy Police Department officers responded to 10^th and Hampshire for a report of shots fired, a car with numerous people was seen at the site that was similar to a car seen in a video of the burglary at the North Bottom Road home. Several firearms taken during the burglary were found in a ditch. 

Washington also is charged with:

• Armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony.
• Robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony.
• Felon in possession of a firearm, a Class 2 felony.