Trial for Quincy man facing attempted first-degree murder charge for ramming wife’s vehicle to begin Dec. 3

QUINCY — The trial for Quincy man charged with attempted first-degree murder for ramming his vehicle into a vehicle driven by his estranged wife will go to trial in early December.

Carl E. Douglas II, 48, appeared Friday morning with Chief Public Defender Jonathan Hoover in Adams County Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing. Hoover and Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Keck both told Judge Michael Atterberry they were ready for the trial, set for the jury docket that begins Dec. 2.

Because of witness availability, the trial is expected to begin Dec. 3. It is expected to take up to three days.

Douglas has pled not guilty to three charges: 

• Attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony punishable for between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. If found guilty by a jury, Douglas II would have to serve 85 percent of his sentence.
• Aggravated attempted domestic battery, a Class 3 felony punishable for between two and five years in prison. If found guilty by a jury, Douglas II would have to serve 50 percent of his sentence.
• Aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony punishable for between one and three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. If found guilty by a jury, Douglas II would have to serve 50 percent of his sentence.

Douglas II allegedly rammed his Tesla several times into a vehicle driven by Katherine Douglas on July 14. He was charged on July 22 with aggravated assault and granted pretrial release. 

However, further investigation into the July 14 incident discovered additional information leading to the attempted first-degree murder charge for Douglas. Evidence in police reports obtained from the Tesla showed Douglas struck his wife’s vehicle while it was going 88 miles per hour, the accelerator was pressed at 100 percent and he did not brake.

Douglas was taken into custody at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Patrol when he disembarked a plane on Aug. 28 after returning from a trip to another country. He has been in the Adams County Jail since Circuit Court Judge Christopher Pratt denied pretrial release during a Sept. 13 hearing.

Hoover filed an objection Friday morning to the proposed introduction of business records and video from Tesla listed in Keck’s discovery response filed Monday in Adams County Circuit Court. 

“I thought that Tesla would be here, and I would be able to examine them,” Hoover said, “I’m asking evidence to be excluded under the business records. Then, in the alternative, if (the state has) Tesla come, OK, I’ll deal with that.”

Atterberry ruled during a motion hearing on Friday afternoon that the business records would not be introduced but that Ryan Saunders, a representative from Tesla’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, would be allowed to testify and refer to those records during testimony.

Keck said a plea offer has been extended to Douglas.

“I would, of course, take that up Monday morning (Nov. 25 during a conference call),” Atterberry said. “In the court’s mind, that’s the jumping-off point, so to speak, before trial. I will inquire as to outstanding offers and the other items on what are referred to as the pre-flight checklist. There are certain matters that need to be taken up prior to a jury trial.”

Atterberry then asked Douglas if he had any questions.

“I have been here since they picked me up in Atlanta coming home,” Douglas replied. “I have a daughter with lymphoma cancer who is in hospital. My electricity was cut off two days ago. I haven’t been able to pay any bills. I have vehicles still at the airport, and the ticket put on (the vehicle) now says that I need to be in court on Dec. 4.

“I have a lot of personal things going on in my life that I haven’t been able to complete because I’ve been here being held on this charge. I haven’t even been able to talk to my daughter since she’s found out she’s had lymphoma cancer and they started chemo on her.”

Atterberry denied Douglas’ request to be released from detention during the Friday afternoon motion hearing.