Quincy man granted pretrial release found in Branson after cutting off GPS ankle monitor

BRANSON, Mo. — A Quincy, Ill., man who had been granted pretrial release last week was arrested Friday in Branson after he had allegedly cut off a GPS ankle monitor two hours after being released from the Adams County Jail.

William Whidbee Jr., 39, of Quincy was arrested on Sept. 24 after a domestic-related incident for aggravated domestic battery/strangulation, a Class 2 felony, and lodged in the Adams County Jail. He was granted pretrial release during his first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court on Sept. 26 and placed on a GPS monitor.

Officers of the Quincy Police Department conducted search warrants and determined Whidbee had fled to Branson. Contact was made with the Branson Police Department, and Whidbee was taken into custody a short time later. He has been charged with escaping electronic monitoring, a Class 3 felony.

Whidbee’s next scheduled appearance in Adams County Circuit Court is Oct. 21. He is currently lodged in the Taney County Jail pending extradition to Adams County.