Quincy man who stole city bus in February 2023 sentenced to 24 months of probation

QUINCY — A Quincy man was sentenced to 24 months of probation after he pled guilty to stealing a bus owned by the City of Quincy.

Christopher D. Gallaher, 42, of 918 Cherry appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Monday with Public Defender John Citro before Judge Tad Brenner.

According to court documents, Gallaher agreed to plead guilty to a charge of possession of a stolen vehicle, a Class 1 felony. Had he been found guilty by a jury of that offense, he would have faced between four and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

As part of the plea agreement, charges of theft of more than $10,000 and less than $100,000 of governmental property, a Class 1 felony, and receiving/possessing/selling a stolen vehicle, a Class 2 felony, were dismissed.

A 180-day sentence to the Adams County Jail was stayed. He was given credit for 161 days already served in the jail.

Officers with the Quincy Police Department were dispatched on the morning of Feb. 11, 2023, after receiving a report of a stolen 2019 Ford City of Quincy bus from the area of Eighth and Maine. The bus had been left unattended, and it was reported someone got in the bus and drove away from the area.

GPS tracking was used to assist in locating the bus at 17th and Locust. Officers arrived on scene, and Gallaher was taken into custody without incident. 

Gallaher’s criminal felony history dates to 2001 when he was found guilty of a burglary charge. He also was found guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in 2007, domestic battery in 2013 and for failing to register as a sex offender in 2018.