Christopher Pratt
QUINCY — Holly Henze is anxious to take over a felony criminal court docket again, but this time it will be from a different perspective. After working in the Adams County Public Defender’s office from 2003 to 2016, Henze has handled the family/divorce docket in Adams County since July 2016 when she became a judge…
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QUINCY — A plea deal for a Quincy man facing first-degree murder charges may be imminent. Victor A. Weems III, 20, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning before Judge Tad Brenner. Matt Wayman with the Hammer Law Firm in St. Louis was there to represent Weems on the first-degree murder charge. Chief Public Defender…
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QUINCY — Christopher Pratt didn’t even get to use the new business cards he ordered. Pratt, an attorney in the Adams County Public Defender’s Office since 2016, halted his campaign to run for state’s attorney in Hancock County when he was promoted from deputy chief defender to chief public defender in February after Todd Nelson resigned.…
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QUINCY — Seven candidates for a judge vacancy in the Eighth Judicial Circuit recently were rated in an advisory poll of lawyers conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association. Ballots were sent to all ISBA members who practice or reside in the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The advisory poll was conducted by mail and electronically. Licensed Illinois…
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QUINCY — The attorney for a Quincy man facing six felony charges, including attempted murder, said Tuesday afternoon he would strike his client’s motion to have the case dismissed. Jeremy J. Coleman, 29, appeared with Chief Public Defender Christopher Pratt before Judge Tad Brenner for a status hearing in Adams County Circuit Court. Coleman has…
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QUINCY — Justice Lisa Holder White of the Supreme Court of Illinois has announced the formation of a seven-member judicial screening committee for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The screening committee, announced in a press release late Friday afternoon, was formed to assess the qualifications of eight people who have applied for appointment to the office…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man facing six felony charges, including attempted murder, has filed an amended motion saying he was defending himself in a December 2023 stabbing incident and wants his case dismissed. However, his attorney says he’s unlikely to adopt the motion as part of his defense. Jeremy J. Coleman, 29, appeared with Chief…
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QUINCY — Christopher Pratt announced on his campaign Facebook page Wednesday morning he is withdrawing from the race for state’s attorney in Hancock County. “I apologize to the people of Hancock County and the Hancock County Republican Party for the timing of this decision,” Pratt wrote. “Recent developments within my current office have shifted key…
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QUINCY — The judges of the Eighth Judicial Circuit have named Christopher Pratt as Adams County’s chief public defender on an interim basis upon Todd Nelson’s departure from the office this week. Pratt has been with the public defender’s office since 2016. He said his first task in the new role is “trying to salvage…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man facing first-degree murder charges pled not guilty Tuesday morning. Victor Weems, 20, was arraigned in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning before Judge Tad Brenner. Matt Wayman with the Hammer Law Firm in St. Louis was there to represent Weems on the first-degree murder charge. When Brenner asked if he would…
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QUINCY — Todd Nelson is stepping down after nearly 7½ years as the chief public defender for the Adams County Public Defender’s office. He sent a letter to county officials last week announcing his plan to leave the position on Feb. 15. “The time has come for me to pursue other opportunities,” Nelson said in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A Quincy man facing six felony charges, including attempted murder, pled not guilty to all of them during his arraignment Tuesday morning. Jeremy J. Coleman, 29, appeared with Public Defender Christopher Pratt before Judge Tad Brenner. He was wearing a jail-issued shirt on which he had written “Free Jay Innocent” on the back.…
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Plainville man with more than 80,000 pornographic images, videos on cellphone given 12-year sentence
QUINCY — Judge Tad Brenner called Joshua Cress, who had more than 80,000 pornographic images and videos on his cellphone, a “very, very predatory and dangerous individual” when handing down a 12-year sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections Monday morning. Cress, 43, of Plainville appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Monday morning with…
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Pratt sees opportunity for 'new challenge' as he files to run for state's attorney in Hancock County
QUINCY — Christopher Pratt, an attorney in the Adams County Public Defender’s Office since 2016, filed last week to run for state’s attorney in Hancock County. Pratt, who was promoted to deputy chief public defender in 2020, filed as a Republican. He will face incumbent Bobi James in a primary on March 19. No Democratic…
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QUINCY — A Plainville man facing charges of child pornography from arrests in January and March will be sentenced in December. Joshua D. Cress, 43, of 371 Main in Plainville appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning morning with Public Defender Christopher Pratt before Judge Tad Brenner. Cress’ case had been scheduled for…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A Quincy man was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for his connection to a September incident at a Quincy hotel. Colton Parsons, 28, of 2407 Cedar appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning with Public Defender Christopher Pratt before Judge Tad Brenner. Parsons pled guilty to…
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QUINCY — A Plainville man facing seven counts of child pornography from a January arrest has agreed to plead guilty to a negotiated plea and will be sentenced next month. Joshua D. Cress, 43, of 371 Main in Plainville appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Friday morning with Public Defender Christopher Pratt before Judge…
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QUINCY — An Adams County grand jury has indicted a Clayton man with three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of a Camp Point man. His arraignment is scheduled for next week in Quincy. Wyond L. Bynum, Jr., 18, appeared Wednesday morning in Adams County Circuit Court with Public Defender Christopher…
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QUINCY — The Adams County Courthouse was oddly quiet Monday. So many employees in the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office were gone that the office closed for lunch, which it never does. Public Defender Christopher Pratt said most of the eight people in that office did not make it to work Monday. Most people used…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man facing up to five years in prison after pleading guilty for threatening a public official received 24 months of probation instead. As part of a straight plea, Chaeto Nichols, 19, had one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A Quincy man faces up to five years in prison when he gets sentenced on May 5 after agreeing to plead guilty for threatening a public official. As part of a straight plea, Chaeto Nichols, 18, had one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and a misdemeanor charge…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man was sentenced Monday afternoon to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in August to one count of child pornography involving a child under the age of 13 and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Jeremy Windsor, 23, appeared before Judge Robert Adrian in Adams…
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QUINCY — When the Illinois Supreme Court announced in October that Amy Lannerd would be assigned as a justice in the Fourth District Appellate Court, Vanessa Pratt made it a point to congratulate her. “I made a joke to her,” Vanessa said. “I was like, ‘If you’re looking for any law clerks, you know, keep…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A Quincy man who allegedly exchanged gunfire earlier this month while in a car on the city’s northwest side pled not guilty Tuesday morning. Chaeto Nichols, 18, was arraigned in Adams County Circuit Court by Judge Amy Lannerd. Nichols appeared with public defender Christopher Pratt. The case was placed on the March 13…
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QUINCY — The trial for a Quincy man facing attempted first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm charges has been set for the December jury docket. Donte M. Clausell, 34, is in federal custody on a separate firearms-related charge. However, he appeared in Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday morning with public defender Christopher Pratt…
Read Full Article November 19, 2024
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