Public defender given $2,500 budget to find psychiatrist in case against Quincy man charged in fatal Memorial Day crash

QUINCY — Judge Amy Lannerd approved for public defender Todd Nelson to spend as much as $2,500 for an expert witness in the case against a Quincy man charged in a fatal Memorial Day crash.

Breeden Wike, 20, appeared Thursday afternoon for a motion hearing in Adams County Circuit Court. He faces felony charges of reckless homicide and aggravated reckless driving, as well as several traffic violations, following a May 30 crash at 12th and Locust that resulted in the death of Kayla Smith of Quincy. 

Reckless homicide is a Class 3 felony, punishable for between two and five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Aggravated reckless driving is a Class 4 felony, punishable for between one and three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Assistant state’s attorney Josh Jones started the hearing by telling Lannerd he didn’t object to Nelson’s motion, which was filed July 27. He also noted Wike was indigent. Jones said his only concern was the motion didn’t say how much money Nelson was requesting.

“We can’t give a blank check,” Jones said.

Lannerd asked Nelson if he had contacted anyone and if he had any idea how much it would cost. 

“We have to be conscientious as to how much the court is authorizing,” she said.

Nelson said he had one expert in mind — Dr. Terry Killian, a Springfield psychiatrist who has been used in other Adams County cases — but added he recently learned about another person who “could be less expensive.”

Lannerd approved up to $2,500, then said if Nelson needed to spend more money, he should file a motion for her to consider. The status of Nelson’s search for a psychiatrist will be reviewed in front of Lannerd on Oct. 25.

According to Quincy Police, Wike was driving his 1999 Ford Ranger west on Locust at a high rate of speed before 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day, ran a red light at the 12th and Locust intersection and hit an SUV driven by Smith, who was pronounced dead at Blessing Hospital later that day. 

An Adams County grand jury indicted Wike June 23 on the two felony charges. He entered a not guilty plea on July 21.

He remains in the Adams County Jail on $250,000 bond.