Hannibal man facing attempted first-degree murder charge from 2022 denied pretrial release for third time

QUINCY — A Hannibal man wanted on attempted first-degree murder charges since August 2022 was denied pretrial release for the second time on Wednesday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court.

Jayshon A. Levy, 21, appeared with Public Defender Mark Taylor before Judge Holly Henze. He has been charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony punishable for between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and three counts of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony punishable for between three and seven years in prison.

Charging documents filed in Adams County Circuit Court allege Levy committed attempted first-degree murder by strangling Abigail Stegeman, holding her head underwater, hitting her with a shower curtain rod and holding a knife to her throat on Aug. 31, 2022. He allegedly committed aggravated domestic battery when he punched Stegeman in the face, breaking her eye socket, on Aug. 15, 2022, then putting his hands on her throat and hitting her about the body on Aug. 31, 2022.

Detectives and members of the West Central Illinois Task Force traveled May 29 to Phoenix to find Levy. They worked with a joint violent crimes task force to apprehend Levy on May 30. Levy was held in the Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix, then extradited to the Marion County (Mo.) Jail. A warrant was issued for his arrest on June 18 for a parole violation. Levy had been found guilty of possession of a controlled substance and sentenced to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on Feb. 8, 2022. However, he received a suspended execution of that sentence and was placed on five years of probation.

Judge Josh Jones denied pretrial release in Levy’s first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court, noting that marks on Stegeman’s face and neck were in a report filed by the Quincy Police Department. He also said the curtain rod and 12-inch knife Levy allegedly held to her throat were recovered at the scene.

When Levy was arraigned and pled not guilty on Aug. 14, Taylor again asked for pretrial release, saying he believed Levy had been “overcharged.” Henze again denied pretrial release.

“When we last convened, the biggest issue with the court in this case was that it was two years from the charging of this actual offense,” Taylor said. “He did not attempt to hurt this person. He did not tend to harm this person in two years before he was arrested. That is undisputable. It’s also an undisputable fact that to call this person dangerous when he was not a dangerous person for two years and had every opportunity to do so, I think it’s hyperbolic.”

Taylor said Levy can’t mount a “proper defense” while incarcerated.

“We’re not asking for exonerated on his crimes. He will go to court,” Taylor said. “He will be judged by a jury of his peers. … We’re asking to get an opportunity to be released from jail. We can do any precarious conditions that the state will agree to. We’ll put him in that ankle monitor. We’ll monitor him, but he cannot mount a defense from the Adams County Jail. … I cannot properly prepare a defense without him.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Keck said there’s no reason Levy can’t prepare his defense in the Adams County Jail.

“The question is: Did the defendant commit a detainable offense?” Keck said. “There’s clear and convincing evidence that has been found over and over again, and whether there are conditions or combinations of conditions that can ensure the protection of the public and the threat to any individual or community safety.”

Keck said Levy’s cellphone was tracked to Oklahoma, where she said he “ditched it.”

“This defendant will not appear,” she said. “He didn’t appear when he had probation in Missouri. People couldn’t find him on this case for two years. Just because it’s a two-year-old case because the defendant couldn’t be bothered to be around … “

Taylor interrupted, saying, “Your Honor, there was no evidence in that report that says (Levy) even knew he was charged with this until after he had been arrested. … You can’t say he was running from something. He did not know what was there.”

Henze reaffirmed her previous decision.

“(Levy) was avoiding a warrant that, at least, he should have known about,” she said. “He knew he was on probation in Missouri to the point a warrant had to be issued. He wasn’t taking care of business.”

Henze also scheduled a hearing for Levy on Monday, Sept. 16. Taylor represents Chaeto Nichols, who is expected to be a witness for Levy in this case. Keck said Taylor had informed her that he planned to withdraw as Nichols’ attorney, but as of Wednesday, that hadn’t happened.

Taylor said Chief Public Defender Jonathan Hoover would be taking over Nichols’ case.

“I apologize we haven’t gotten to that point,” he said. “I’ve also spoken to Mr. Levy about any waivers needed. He’s more than willing to waive any conflicts that might have occurred in this case. We’ve addressed the situation. We’re ready to move forward.”

Keck said neither she nor the Quincy Police Department have had a “meaningful discussion” with Nichols because she doesn’t know what defense attorney she’s dealing with.

Levy’s case remains on the October docket.