Gholston first-degree murder trial removed from October jury docket

QUINCY — The first-degree murder trial of a Quincy man has been delayed.

Devere S. Gholston, 27, appeared Tuesday in Adams County Circuit Court before Judge Debra Wellborn. His attorney, public defender Babette Brennan, was absent. Public defender John Citro, who is serving as Brennan’s co-counsel in the case, was in attendance.

Gholston has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of residential burglary and one count of robbery in the beating death of 67-year-old Robert Schmidt, who died Feb. 17 in his home at 3219 Gross Gables. Hayden Schmidt, 16, also faces three counts of first-degree murder for his connection with the same incident.

Hayden Schmidt allegedly struck Robert Schmidt in the head with a firearm. Gholston allegedly was in the vehicle that drove Hayden Schmidt to the house.

Gholston faces between 35 years and 75 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if a jury finds him guilty on any of the murder counts. 

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 on Tuesday that Brennan would be on leave for most of September.

“We just simply cannot be prepared for trial in October,” Citro said.

Wellborn agreed to the continuation “as long as we’re actively still seeking to keep it on a jury docket.” She set a status hearing for Oct. 4 for Gholston to return to court.

Gholston remains in the Adams County Jail on $10 million bond.