Arkansas man found unfit for trial in kidnapping case

QUINCY — A man accused of kidnapping a Quincy woman appeared in Adams County Circuit Court Friday and will be handed over to the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Dr. Frank Froman, a Quincy clinical psychologist, found Mario Mason unfit for trial. The case has been continued to July 12 for a status review.

Quincy Police began the investigation on July 19 of the kidnapping of Tabitha Campbell, 36, of Quincy. A search warrant was conducted in a room at the Welcome Inn, which led to the discovery of evidence relating to an alleged aggravated domestic battery and kidnapping that occurred July 17 at the Welcome Inn. Police suspected Campbell was taken against her will by Mason.

Campbell was found July 21 in Marked Tree, Arkansas after escaping from Mason.

Mason was captured Sept. 14 in Marshall County, Kentucky after a search involving Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Benton police, Marshall County Fire Rescue Squad, Calloway County Fire, Ledbetter Fire, Kentucky State Police, Marshall County Constable 2, and Marshall County EMS.  He was taken into custody in a wooded area around 10:30 p.m.

Mason, 40, of Turrell, Arkansas, faces one count of aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, all Class X felonies. He faces between six and 30 years in the Department of Corrections on each count. If convicted, he faces mandatory consecutive sentencing.

Mason is being held in the Adams County Jail on a $2 million bond. Illinois’ “Truth In Sentencing” for violent crimes also applies to Mason’s case. If convicted, he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he can get out of prison.