Josh Jones
QUINCY — After months of complaining of how he’s been beaten and mistreated in the Adams County Jail, Bradley Yohn may soon be getting a new home. Judge Frank McCartney first sentenced Yohn on Wednesday in Adams County Circuit Court to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. An Adams County jury found him…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man facing two felony charges for his involvement in a May 30, 2022, crash at 12th and Locust that killed a Quincy woman on Memorial Day last year will spend three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections — and the victim’s husband wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. Breeden Wike, 21, appeared…
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The two Adams County prosecutors who tried the Tim Bliefnick murder case reflect on the case and what the ramifications could possibly be. We did have a slight audio issue with this so we apologize in advance. MRN This Week is furnished by Harvey’s.
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QUINCY — A jury of six men and six women found Tim Bliefnick guilty Wednesday on two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Home Invasion in the Feb. 23 shooting death of his estranged wife Rebecca Bliefnick. The Adams County jury took 4 hours and 15 minutes to decide Bliefnick’s fate. Bliefnick…
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CourtTV experts call Jones' closing 'excellent,' say Tim Bliefnick had 'worst possible defense ever'
QUINCY — Commentators on CourtTV Wednesday afternoon were complimentary of Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones’ closing statement in the Tim Bliefnick trial while suggesting the defendant change his last name to “Disbelief-nick.” Tim Bliefnick is accused of shooting Becky Bliefnick multiple times at her Kentucky Road home on Feb. 23. Tim was arrested on March…
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QUINCY — Judge Robert Adrian sent the jury in Tim Bliefnick’s first-degree murder trial out to deliberate at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones and defense attorney Casey Schnack presented their closing statements Wednesday morning. Jones began his closing with his basic case of Tim riding a bike to Becky’s house, climbing on…
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QUINCY — A detective with the Quincy Police Department explained Tuesday afternoon to the six-man, six-woman jury in the Tim Bliefnick trial the evidence recovered from home surveillance systems, as well as multiple electronic devices, links Tim to the murder of his estranged wife. Tim Bliefnick is accused of shooting Becky Bliefnick multiple times at…
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QUINCY — No evidence will be presented, and only one witness could be called Wednesday morning by defense attorney Casey Schnack in the Tim Bliefnick trial. The decision to have Tim testify in his own trial won’t be made public until both sides return to Adams County Circuit Court at 8:45 a.m. Tim Bliefnick is…
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QUINCY —Becky Bliefnick was shot 14 times in the bathroom of her home on Feb. 23 but was still alive for several minutes as she bled to death, according to testimony given Friday morning during the Tim Bliefnick trial in Adams County Circuit Court. Tim Bliefnick is accused of shooting Becky Bliefnick multiple times at…
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QUINCY — Google searches and website visits for identifying if shotgun shells are shot out of a specific gun, opening a window from the outside with a crowbar and cleaning gunpowder off your hands were among the many results discovered in extractions of Tim Bliefnick’s computer and cellphone. Those results dominated the second half of…
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QUINCY — Three members of the Quincy Police Department explained the evidence-gathering process that led to the arrest of Tim Bliefnick, who is charged with the Feb. 23 murder of his estranged wife, Becky Bliefnick. The fourth day of the murder trial was conducted in Adams County Circuit Court. The trial is scheduled to resume…
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QUINCY — A Quincy Police Department detective said Tim Bliefnick cooperated with investigators on the night of Feb. 23, shortly after his wife was found dead in her home. Tim Bliefnick is on trial this week in Adams County Circuit Court. He is accused of shooting Becky Bliefnick multiple times at her Kentucky Road home…
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QUINCY — Adams County Assistant State’s Attorneys Josh Jones and Laura Keck paraded a series of witnesses Wednesday afternoon before the jury in the Tim Bliefnick murder trial. Each of them said Bliefnick’s estranged wife, Becky, had reached out to talk and text about her fears and concerns as the couple went through a contentious…
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QUINCY — The sister of Becky Bliefnick testified on Tuesday afternoon that Becky sent her a text in 2021, telling her that “if something ever happens to me, make sure the No. 1 person of interest is Tim.” Tim Bliefnick, Becky’s estranged husband, is on trial this week in Adams County Circuit Court for the…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man who testified he had been in a “dating type of relationship” with Becky Bliefnick since January 2020 said he saw her for the last time on the night of Feb. 21 and talked with her on the evening of Feb. 22 — hours before she was found shot to death…
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QUINCY — Adams County Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones painted a picture of the last moments of Becky Bliefnick’s life, describing fear, panic and death and accusing Tim Bliefnick of shooting her 14 times. Jones presented the prosecution’s opening statements before a jury of six men and six women Tuesday morning. Jones described the crime…
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QUINCY — A six-man and six-woman jury was selected Monday to hear testimony in Tim Bliefnick’s first-degree murder case beginning Tuesday. Bliefnick is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in connection with the Feb. 23 shooting death of his estranged wife, Rebecca Bliefnick. Jury selection lasted about 8…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Jury selection begins Monday in the first-degree murder trial of Tim Bliefnick, who is accused of fatally shooting his estranged wife three months ago. Bliefnick and his attorney, Casey Schnack, appeared before Judge Robert Adrian along with Assistant State’s Attorneys Josh Jones and Laura Keck Friday morning. The attorneys confirmed no plea arrangements…
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QUINCY — Both the defense and the prosecution say they will be ready to begin the first-degree murder trial of Tim Bliefnick on May 22. Bliefnick is accused of killing his estranged wife, Rebecca Bliefnick, on Feb. 23. Bliefnick was arrested on March 13 on two first-degree murder charges and one count of home invasion.…
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Quincy and Adams County Republicans jammed the lower level of Tower Pizza and Mexican Thursday night as Todd Eyler officially kicked off his campaign to be Adams County’s next state’s attorney. The man currently holding that title, Gary Farha, officially handed the baton to his first assistant when he spoke before the partisan crowd. Farha…
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QUINCY — A Wednesday afternoon motion hearing in Adams County Circuit Court didn’t go well for Bradley Yohn. Judge Roger Thomson addressed five motions made by Yohn, who is defending himself pro se in a criminal sexual assault case. One eventually was skipped, three were denied, and Yohn eventually was kicked out of the courtroom…
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QUINCY — The prosecution wanted the maximum prison sentence allowed, and the defense wanted probation. Judge Mark Vincent, admitting he didn’t know what he was going to do before the beginning of Friday afternoon’s sentencing hearing of John Rokusek, decided a little of both was in order. Rokusek, 60, the former owner of a Quincy…
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QUINCY – Judge Robert Adrian will hear arguments regarding a blanket unsealing of all documents pertaining to the first-degree murder case of Tim Bliefnick. But those arguments won’t happen before a Thursday court appearance by Bliefnick that is expected to last for most of the day. Muddy River News, WGEM-TV and The Herald-Whig, represented by…
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QUINCY — Judge Roger Thomson addressed several motions during Wednesday afternoon’s motion hearing in Bradley Yohn’s criminal sexual assault case in Adams County Circuit Court. Two, however, appeared to rise above the others. Yohn eventually dropped his motion to fire Public Defender Todd Nelson and acquire new standby counsel as he continues to defend himself…
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QUINCY — Judge Robert Adrian ruled Wednesday that Tim Bliefnick was indigent after he filled out an affidavit of his assets and liabilities as well as based on the Circuit Court’s freezing of assets contested in the divorce case between Bliefnick and his late estranged wife, Rebecca. Tim Bliefnick faces first-degree murder charges in the…
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QUINCY — An Adams County jury took 16 minutes Tuesday morning to convict Bradley Yohn of one count of possessing contraband in a penal institution. The jury believed Yohn, 36, hid two thumb drives on Nov. 15 in his cell, which was not permitted by the Adams County Jail. Judge Frank McCartney will sentence him…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Adams County State’s Attorney Josh Jones says the case against Bradley Yohn comes down to one simple thing. Following the rules. Jones said in his opening statement Monday afternoon before a jury of seven men and five women in Adams County Circuit Court that Yohn’s failure to follow the rules on Nov. 15…
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QUINCY — Tim Bliefnick remained silent, but attorney Casey Schnack entered a “not guilty” plea for her client in the first-degree murder case of Rebecca Bliefnick before a crowd of about 50 people in Adams County Circuit Court Friday afternoon. Judge Robert Adrian asked, “Not guilty, Miss Schnack?” Schnack replied, “Yes, your honor.” Rebecca Bliefnick,…
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QUINCY — An Adams County grand jury returned a true bill of indictment Thursday morning in the case of Tim Bliefnick, who is charged with two counts of murder in the Feb. 23 shooting death of his estranged wife, Rebecca Bliefnick. The grand jury met for about three hours Thursday and heard evidence on 38…
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QUINCY — A Springfield man defending himself in a November 2021 sexual assault case said Tuesday afternoon he wanted to defend himself in two other felony cases — and a judge granted his wish. Bradley Yohn, 36, appeared before Judge Tad Brenner in Adams County Circuit Court with his attorney, Public Defender Todd Nelson, for…
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QUINCY — Judge Roger Thomson put the trial for Bradley Yohn, a Springfield man defending himself in a November 2021 sexual assault case, on the May 8 jury docket — 545 days after Yohn allegedly committed the crime. Yohn, however, told Thomson at the conclusion of Thursday afternoon’s motion hearing in Adams County Circuit Court…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Tim Bliefnick will remain in the Adams County Jail until at least next week when a grand jury will hear the evidence against him to decide if he will be arraigned. Bliefnick, 39, made his first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon with attorney Casey Schnack in Courtroom 1A before Judge…
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PLEASE READ THIS CAUTIONARY NOTE: Readers should understand this story contains descriptions of sexual abuse. This may offend and shock some readers or be painful to survivors of sexual abuse or assault. Muddy River News believes it is necessary to report this information as a warning and a reminder of what comprises sexual abuse and the importance of protecting children and supporting…
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QUINCY — Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates said the evidence in the case of Rebecca Bliefnick’s death pointed Quincy Police detectives in the direction of her estranged husband after days of conducting the investigation. “We looked at all leads and information from the public, and after following the evidence, this is what led to the…
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QUINCY — Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, of 2528 Kentucky Road, was found dead Thursday afternoon by a family member who went to check on her after she did not arrive at St. Peter School to pick up her children. Quincy Police responded to the call at 3:23 p.m. Thursday. Investigators and a member of the Adams…
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QUINCY — The former owner of a Quincy nightclub accused of assaulting a Quincy University student in April 2021 entered an Alford plea on Tuesday morning to an amended charge of battery. Steven W. Homan, 49, appeared with his attorney, Benedict Song, before Judge Mark Vincent in Adams County Circuit Court. A trial expected to…
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QUINCY — The trial of a former owner of a Quincy nightclub accused of assaulting a Quincy University student in April 2021 has been removed from next week’s jury docket. The trial for Steven W. Homan, 49, was set to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 14 before Judge Mark Vincent. It was expected to last four…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Judge Mark Vincent denied a request for a continuance in the case of the former owner of a Quincy nightclub accused of assaulting a Quincy University student in April 2021. He then set Feb. 14 as the start of what is expected to be a four-day trial. Steven Homan appeared in Adams County…
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QUINCY — A Quincy woman facing four counts of first-degree murder after a 2020 accident killed four people has chosen to have a bench trial, which has been set for May 1-3. Natasha McBride, 39, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning with her attorney, Public Defender Todd Nelson, before Judge Tad Brenner.…
Read Full Article PLEASE READ THIS CAUTIONARY NOTE: Readers should understand this story contains descriptions of sexual abuse. This may offend and shock some readers or be painful to survivors of sexual abuse or assault. Muddy River News believes it is necessary to report this information as a warning and a reminder of what comprises sexual abuse and the importance of protecting children and supporting…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A Springfield man defending himself in a November 2021 sexual assault case said last month he wanted to defend himself in two other felony cases, then told Judge Robert Adrian on Tuesday morning he was withdrawing his request. Bradley Yohn, 35, also said during his appearance in Adams County Circuit Court he’s waiting…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County State’s Attorney’s office will not file an appeal of last month’s Fourth District Appellate Court’s ruling, which upheld Judge Amy Lannerd’s ruling to dismiss a charge of aggravated driving under the influence by Natasha McBride in an Aug. 14, 2020, crash that killed four people. A status hearing on McBride’s…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man who allegedly recorded more than 200 videos of people in a locker room/restroom area without their permission while they were showering or changing clothes will have another 402 conference on Jan. 26. John Rokusek, 60, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court with his attorney, Denny Woodward, before Judge Mark Vincent.…
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QUINCY — While presenting 20 motions Wednesday during a nearly three-hour hearing in Adams County Circuit Court, a Springfield man defending himself in a November 2021 sexual assault case said he plans to move for a change of venue. While discussing a request for funds to pay for a polling service, Bradley Yohn, 35, told Judge…
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QUINCY — A Springfield man who is defending himself in a November 2021 sexual assault case decided Tuesday morning he now wants to defend himself in two other felony cases. Bradley Yohn, 35, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court before Judge Tad Brenner for a status hearing in two cases. He was charged Oct. 15 with…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man facing three counts of first-degree murder did not accept a plea deal on Friday, and his hopes of obtaining private counsel before his case goes to a jury next month is in question. Devere Gholston, 27, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Friday afternoon before Judge Debra Wellborn. Gholston…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Fourth District Appellate Court upheld an April 1 ruling by Judge Amy Lannerd in which she dismissed a charge of aggravated driving under the influence by Natasha McBride of Quincy in an Aug. 14, 2020 crash that killed four people. The appellate court’s ruling was filed Monday. McBride allegedly ran a traffic…
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QUINCY — What started out as a simple status hearing and an opportunity to set a date for a hearing to review eight motions filed by Bradley Yohn ended with Yohn being escorted from an Adams County courtroom Wednesday morning yelling obscenities at Judge Roger Thomson, calling him a “piece of s**t.” Yohn, 35, is…
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QUINCY — Judge Debra Wellborn hadn’t heard much lately about the Devere Gholston case, so she took it upon herself to schedule a status hearing for Monday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court. Gholston, 27, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of residential burglary and one count of robbery in…
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QUINCY — The trial for a Quincy man charged in a fatal Memorial Day crash in Quincy was placed on the jury docket for Jan. 9. Wike, 21, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday morning before Judge Amy Lannerd. He is represented by Chief Public Defender Todd Nelson. Wike faces charges of reckless homicide,…
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QUINCY — Bradley Yohn of Springfield, who is preparing to defend himself against criminal sexual assault charges in a Nov. 2021 incident, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to another felony charge he picked up Oct. 14 for allegedly threatening to kill a correctional officer in the Adams County Jail. Yohn, 35, appeared…
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QUINCY — After debating with Judge Roger Thomson about the start date of his jury trial in November, a frustrated Bradley Yohn abruptly stormed out of an Adams County courtroom Wednesday morning with help from several bailiffs and court security personnel. Yohn, a Springfield man charged with four Class X felonies in Adams County in…
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Adams County Assistant State’s Attorney talks about the potential ramifications when no cash bail goes into effect in Illinois January 1. For background, Muddy River News ran this Capitol News Illinois story last month. There is also a forum discussing the Safe-T Act at John Wood Community College on October 19 at 6 p.m. hosted…
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QUINCY — Judge Roger Thomson appointed standby counsel for Bradley Yohn, a Springfield man charged with four Class X felonies in Adams County in connection with a Nov. 9, 2021 sexual assault case who is defending himself for a second time. Thomson selected public defender Todd Nelson, Yohn’s attorney from July 20 until Thomson dismissed…
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QUINCY — A Quincy woman received a five-year sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections on Wednesday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court. Caitlin Dietiker, 32, pled guilty to two charges of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance on July 13 in exchange for a prison term of no longer than 10 years. Judge Roger…
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QUINCY — Bradley Yohn is defending himself for a second time. The Springfield man, charged with four Class X felonies in Adams County in connection with a Nov. 9, 2021 sexual assault, filed a motion on Aug. 24 to claim public defender Todd Nelson has been ineffective as his counsel and asked to represent himself…
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QUINCY — Karen Blackledge sent a letter to the Adams County Circuit Clerk on July 27, saying her legal representation was “less than efficient and effective” and led her to agree May 5 to two 20-year sentences to the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, when Judge Amy Lannerd asked Friday during a motion hearing in…
Read Full Article 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…
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QUINCY — The Illinois Attorney General’s office has received the recordings of the closed sessions of the Adams County Board and Finance Committee meetings for May and acknowledged the board’s actions during those meetings were “improper”. In a statement e-mailed from the AG’s communications office Thursday afternoon: “We are pleased that Adams County has acknowledged…
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The Adams County Board’s Finance Committee went into closed session May 9 to discuss giving themselves raises and lay out a political strategy to deal with potential fallout from voters who might not approve of the action. These actions are not permitted under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A Quincy woman pled guilty Wednesday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court to two charges of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance in exchange for a prison term of no longer than 10 years. Dietiker, 22, was set to enter a plea on May 11 when her attorney, public defender Todd Nelson, told…
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QUINCY — Judge Michael Atterberry ruled Wednesday morning in Adams County Circuit Court the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office will no longer be allowed to participate in the prosecution of a Quincy man charged with first-degree murder. Travis Wiley, 34, appeared Wednesday morning before Atterberry. He was set to go to trial July 18 on…
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QUINCY — The trial of Bradley Yohn in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning started with Judge Roger Thomson addressing a series of motions filed by Yohn last week. It ended moments before jury selection was set to begin when Yohn told Thomson, “I can’t do this.” Thomson eventually set a July 6 hearing…
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QUINCY — A motion hearing in Adams County Circuit Court on Thursday afternoon in front of Judge Roger Thomson addressed motions by Bradley Yohn to bar evidence in other cases, suppress cell phone data and disclose discovery from the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office. However, the hearing eventually boiled down to legal pads, pens and…
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QUINCY — When Judge Roger Thomson asked Bradley Yohn if he would be ready for the first day of his trial on June 21, Yohn replied, “Oh, yes sir, most definitely.” Yohn is defending himself Pro Se against charges of carjacking and home invasion in Adams County filed in November 2021. He appeared in Adams…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Judge Amy Lannerd denied on Monday Chief Public Defender Todd Nelson’s motion seeking the release of Natasha McBride, who is charged in connection with a fatal 2020 traffic crash, from the Adams County Jail. Lannerd cleared the courtroom for approximately 30 minutes to discuss the motion with Nelson and Assistant State’s Attorney Josh Jones…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A hearing has been set for 3 p.m. March 18 to determine whether a charge of aggravated driving under the influence filed against Natasha L. McBride should be dismissed. McBride faces four counts of murder in connection to the Aug. 14, 2020, deaths of Jenniffer Hendricks, 54, of Rushville, and Dakota Corrick, 6,…
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QUINCY — The trial for a Quincy woman allegedly involved in a carjacking, kidnapping and burglary in November in Adams County has been pushed back to March. Karen Blackledge, 33, was in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning for what was expected to be a pretrial hearing. However, Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The trial of a Quincy woman charged in connection with the 2020 crash that killed four people has been moved to April. Public Defender Todd Nelson filed a motion on Wednesday in Adams County Circuit Court to continue the case against Natasha McBride, 37. She faces four counts of murder in connection to…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A pre-trial hearing date for a Quincy woman facing four murder charges remains unchanged, but a report from a Chicago psychiatrist could change that. Judge Scott Larson ruled Friday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court that he would grant Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office, more time…
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QUINCY — Judge Bob Adrian threw Josh Jones, lead trial attorney for the Adams County State’s Attorney’s office, out of his courtroom Wednesday morning for a “comment” Jones recently made on social media. Jones and Adrian were in courtroom 1B for status hearings on a series of felony cases in Adams County Circuit Court. After…
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QUINCY — A St. Louis man was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to throwing a cat against a wall in 2018, recording it and sending the video to his wife. Trevor Moncrief, 35, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. He was living in Quincy when the…
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QUINCY — A motion to suppress evidence obtained from a cellphone was denied by Judge Bob Adrian during a hearing Thursday morning in the first-degree murder case for Travis Wiley in Adams County Circuit Court. A pretrial hearing for Wiley’s case has been set for Oct. 18, with jury selection set to begin Oct. 25. …
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QUINCY — A date has been tentatively set for the trial of a Quincy nightclub owner charged with one count of aggravated battery in the reported assault of a female student at Quincy University. Judge Amy Lannerd set the date for the trial of Steven W. Homan, 47, for Jan. 10, 2022. during a status…
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QUINCY — Roger Parker Jr., who claimed he grew tired of being bullied by Darrell “D.J.” Kelley Jr. and shot him to death on Sept. 26, 2019, was sentenced to 20 years on Friday morning in an Adams County courtroom. Parker, 18, pled guilty in May to one count of second-degree murder. He was 16…
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QUINCY — When Keith W. Young III entered Courtroom 2B of the Adams County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon, the first thing he did was ask a bailiff for hand sanitizer. “I haven’t showered in three days,” Young told the bailiff through a blue-paper mask. “They got me on suicide watch …” Then Young muttered something…
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