Bynum gets wish as judge allows attorney to withdraw from first-degree murder case; Hoover named counsel

QUINCY — An Adams County judge granted a motion to withdraw by the attorney for a Clayton teen charged with first-degree murder.

Wyond L. Bynum, Jr., 19, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday morning before Associate Circuit Court Judge Holly Henze. His attorney, Victor Smith of St. Louis, appeared by Zoom.

Henze did most of the talking during the three-minute hearing. She asked Bynum if he didn’t have any objection to Smith’s motion to withdraw because he had filed a motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. She asked Smith if he still wanted to withdraw. Both said yes.

She then appointed Chief Public Defender Jonathon Hoover as Bynum’s counsel. Bynum’s next appearance in court was set for Oct. 2.

Bynum filed a motion on Aug. 16 in Adams County Circuit Court contending that Smith had committed a Brady violation for failing to show him full disclosure of the evidence in the case. He claims his due process rights have been violated. Bynum also said Smith had not come to see him in the Adams County Jail in the past 12 months and that Smith doesn’t answer emails or calls.

Bynum wrote that he is “bewildered as to his defenses and confused to what’s going on.” 

Smith replied in his motion filed Sept. 4 in Adams County Circuit Court that Bynum has been counseled in person and by text messages in preparation for the case. He said Bynum has filed pro se documents that are “ill-advised,” and Bynum has had conversations with others who have provided direction “that runs counter to counsel’s advice … causing an irreconcilable conflict and a total breakdown of the attorney/client relationship.”

Bynum has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the Aug. 14, 2023, shooting death of Jaycob Rowland.  He pled not guilty during his arraignment on July 18.

The sentencing range for his crimes normally would be between 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if he were found guilty. However, because of a 25-year enhancement for using a firearm, Bynum could be sentenced to between 45 years and natural life in the DOC. Bynum also would have to serve 100 percent of any sentence that is not natural life.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department reported the shooting took place between 12:30 and 12:40 a.m. on Aug. 14 in the street in front of a residence at 505 West Jefferson in Camp Point. The murder weapon was recovered in the West Jefferson residence.

Bynum remains lodged in the Adams County Jail.