Public defender asks for continuance, but judge places case of Quincy woman on June docket

QUINCY — The jury trial of a Quincy woman charged with stealing three vehicles, including a Quincy Police squad car, and leading officers on a chase in excess of 100 miles per hour has been placed on the June docket.

The case for Mercedes N. Patterson, 25, was placed in February on the April jury docket by Judge Scott Larson. However, Judge Timothy J. Wessel removed the case on April 1 from the April docket. Patterson was in Adams County Circuit Court Wednesday morning for a status hearing.

Public defender Chris Pratt opened the hearing by making a request for a continuation as plea negotiations proceed. However, Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler objected.

“I’ve told Mr. Pratt my position. There’s no offer,” he said. “If it’s continued, that’s fine. I’d like to put it on the June jury docket, because that would then put us six months removed from the initial date. … I just don’t want this thing kicking around, dragging along. My position is what it is. I don’t see it changing at all.”

“That’s fine,” Pratt replied. “If we’ve decided to do a jury trial, we can do that.”

Judge Roger Thomson scheduled a jury trial for Patterson to begin June 13. Thomson set a pre-trial hearing for June 3 and a status hearing for May 18.

“Any negotiations need to be done and completed by the 18th. I don’t want to repeat this cycle again with the matter coming off of the jury calendar and then placed before me and then going back on,” Thomson said. 

“At this point, I don’t anticipate that coming off the jury docket,” Pratt said.

“There’s a reason we do these omnibus hearings and a reason we have a cut off for deals. We’re going to stick to that reason,” Thomson said.

Patterson faces seven counts in one case — theft over $10,000, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal damage to state-supported property, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with vehicle damage and two counts of criminal damage to property.

She faces five charges in a second case — two counts of burglary, two counts of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and aggravated fleeing to elude an officer.

Patterson allegedly stole a vehicle in Camp Point on Dec. 22, then eluded Adams County Sheriff’s deputies. According to police reports, she hit two parked cars while driving the wrong way on Quincy’s Third Street, a one-way street. After wrecking the vehicle, she allegedly took the Quincy Police car.

She was arrested that afternoon when officers procured a search warrant and entered a residence at 209 Maple after a standoff that lasted nearly four hours.

Patterson continues to be held in the Adams County Jail on a $350,000 bond — $250,000 for the first case and $100,000 for the second.