Todd Eyler
QUINCY — A motion for a substitution of judge was filed with the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office on Thursday after a Quincy man facing two Class X felonies was given pretrial release on Wednesday. Matthew Steinkamp, 40, was in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with Public Defender Kevin Bross for a…
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QUINCY — One of four men arrested in connection to a Nov. 5, 2023, burglary along North Bottom Road pled guilty on Friday and received a five-year sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Ashton T. Summers, 20, of Quincy, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court with his attorney, Dennis Woodworth, before Judge Tad Brenner. Summers…
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QUINCY — Despite attorney Ryan Schuenke’s assertion that the wrong person is lodged in the Adams County Jail, Judge Holly Henze denied a motion to grant Alan Pacheco pre-trial release Wednesday morning in Adams County Circuit Court. Pacheco, 21, also was arraigned after the motion hearing and pled not guilty to five felony charges stemming…
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QUINCY — The arraignment for a Quincy man charged with four felonies in connection with a July shooting in the TJ Maxx parking lot at the Prairie Crossing Shopping Center has been pushed back a week. Alan C. Pacheco, 21, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday morning with attorney Ryan Schuenke before Judge Holly…
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QUINCY — Adams County State’s Attorney Gary Farha recently announced changes in the state’s attorney’s office. Laura Keck, who has been with the state’s attorney’s office since November 2012, was promoted to lead trial attorney. She replaces Josh Jones, who started his new job as an associate judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in July. Jones and…
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QUINCY —Robert Adrian has until July 31 to respond to a complaint filed with the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) on June 25 that recommends the former Eighth Judicial Circuit judge be disciplined. Adrian said Friday that the ARDC shouldn’t hold its breath. “It’s a waste of everybody’s time,” he said Friday morning.…
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QUINCY — A Clayton teen charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 14, 2023, shooting death of a Camp Point man pled not guilty during his arraignment on Wednesday morning. Wyond L. Bynum, Jr., 19, appeared with St. Louis-based attorney Victor Smith before Judge Holly Henze in Adams County Circuit Court. After Bynum made…
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QUINCY — Two cases in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning illustrated the problems local officials are having with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Attorney Anthony Cameron filed a petition on July 12 on behalf of his client, Thomas Delcour of Payson, asking for Judge Tad Brenner to issue an order to…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man charged with four felonies in connection with a shooting Saturday afternoon in the TJ Maxx parking lot at the Prairie Crossing Shopping Center will remain in the Adams County Jail. However, the man’s attorney said his client was acting in self-defense. Alan C. Pacheco, 21, appeared in Adams County Circuit…
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QUINCY — The evaluation of whether a Clayton teen is fit to stand trial in a first-degree murder trial must wait another month. Wyond L. Bynum, Jr., 19, appeared with St. Louis-based attorney Victor Smith before Judge Holly Henze in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday. Bynum is facing three counts of first-degree murder in…
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QUINCY — The trepidation was noticeable in Judge Charles H.W. Burch’s voice as he listened Wednesday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court to the details in a negotiated plea for Mark Lawrence. Lawrence, 65, who with his wife Chris founded the 2X4’s for Hope charity, agreed to an Alford plea on one count of theft…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man has entered not guilty pleas to all charges he faces in connection with the shooting death last October of a 16-year-old girl. Demarco Smith, 19, is charged with felony counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, armed robbery and attempted robbery. The conspiracy counts have a…
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QUINCY — Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, told the Human Rights Commission and a crowd of about 40 people at City Hall on Tuesday night that he learned earlier this week from state officials that they had no information about any hate groups operating locally. Yates said his department contacted the Statewide…
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QUINCY — The two men running to replace Randy Frese in the Illinois House of Representatives spoke at a political forum sponsored by the Quincy Tea Party Tuesday night at Tower Pizza and Mexican. Kyle Moore of Quincy and Eric Snellgrove of Beardstown each gave their pitches to the crowd of about 100 and answered…
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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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CHICAGO — When testifying to the Illinois Courts Commission about Eighth District Judge Robert Adrian’s experience and knowledge in the 13 years he’s been on the bench in Adams County, Quincy attorney Drew Schnack took the opportunity to make a pitch to the seven commissioners. “It would be tragic to lose Judge Adrian,” Schnack said…
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QUINCY — A husband and wife who formerly owned a Quincy business and now face two theft charges made their first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon. Andy P. Reardon, 58, and Michelle M. Reardon, 52, of Spring Hill, Fla., appeared with St. Louis attorney Justin Summary before Judge Tad Brenner. Both…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man indicted over a year ago on multiple sex offense charges is scheduled to have his bench trial in December. Aaron Washington, 46, was arrested on Sept. 12, 2022 after being interviewed at the Quincy Police Department. He is charged with Criminal Sexual Assault of a Family Member under the age…
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QUINCY — A second Quincy man involved in the Feb. 17, 2022, death of a 67-year-old man in his home was sentenced Monday morning to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Devere Gholston, 28, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court with attorney Jen Kusmer with the St. Louis firm of Frank, Juengel and Radefeld before…
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After driving from Schuyler County to attend the Back the Blue Festival in Quincy, I was disappointed to see such a low turnout to honor your local police and other first responders. Hopefully, next year will see some larger numbers. First responders, who include both law enforcement and emergency medical personnel, lay their lives on…
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The Adams County State’s Attorney’s office deservedly received local and national accolades for its swift prosecution and ability to get a conviction following Becky Bliefnick’s murder at the hands of her estranged husband, Tim. That case, as heart and gut-wrenching as it was to the community, certainly put State’s Attorney Gary Farha and his team…
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QUINCY — During a June 28 Zoom meeting to discuss mold problems in the 84,000-square-foot Adams County Courthouse, Larry Schwartz of SafeStart Environmental gave his conclusions about the April testing his company conducted to the 125 people who participated online. “The real hard facts are, right now, knowing what I know, and I can’t say I’m absolutely…
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QUINCY — Candy Anderson still has a screen shot of the quote on her phone. Days after an Aug. 14, 2020 crash at Fourth and Broadway that killed a grandmother and her three grandchildren, First Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler said during a press gathering he believed the crash was no accident. He said his…
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QUINCY — A Quincy man agreed to a sentence of 24 months of probation Thursday after pleading guilty to a Class 4 felony of criminal damage to property. Jack R. Blanke, 39, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court wearing a stained neon hoodie and camo shorts alongside Public Defender Christopher Pratt on Thursday in front…
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QUINCY — A special meeting of the Adams County Board with only one item on the agenda — a discussion about a recent report on mold in the courthouse — lasted 14 minutes Wednesday night. Most of those in attendance left with more questions than answers, especially concerning a video meeting with a county committee…
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