Quincy woman gets 24 months of probation, has Class X felony dismissed as part of plea agreement

QUINCY — A Quincy woman arrested in June 2024 and facing an armed violence charge, a Class X felony, recently agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges.

Dakota R. Morrill, 26, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Thursday, March 27, with Public Defender Mark Taylor before Circuit Judge Holly Henze. 

She pled guilty to possession of less than five grams of meth, a Class 3 felony, and possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, a Class A misdemeanor. Henze sentenced her to 24 months of probation, as well as ordering her to pay a $575 fine and perform 30 hours of public service.

Charges of armed violence, a Class X felony, and delivery of less than five grams of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony, were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Officers with the Quincy Police Department Special Investigations Unit obtained a search warrant on June 14, 2024, for a residence in the 600 block of North Eighth in Quincy. During the execution of the search warrant, several individuals were taken into custody pending the investigation. Officers found a 9mm handgun, ammunition, United States currency, methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia. 

Austin M. Schneider, 21, also was arrested with Morrill. He agreed on Jan. 24 to plead guilty to delivery of meth of less than five grams, a Class 2 felony, and unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon, a Class 3 felony. Henze sentenced him to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Schneider must serve 50 percent of his sentence. 

As part of the plea negotiations, three charges were dismissed — armed violence, a Class X felony; unlawful condition of firearm ammunition by a felon, a Class 3 felony; and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony.