Bynum pleads not guilty in August 2023 shooting death in Camp Point; case placed on November jury docket

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 his plea, Smith asked for a continuance before the case was set on a jury docket.

“We did get some correspondence from a medical records facility, but there was an indication that there was some type of mix-up about the time period in question,” Smith said. “I’ve given (Bynum’s) mother a homework assignment to give me some more specific dates.”

A mental fitness evaluation of Bynum, to be completed by Dr. Frank Froman, was ordered Feb. 22 by Judge Robert Adrian. The status of that evaluation was not mentioned during Wednesday’s hearing.

Assistant State’s Attorney Todd Eyler objected to the continuance, saying the case was only a few days away from being a year old.

“The order that was entered last time is marked and says, ‘Final continuance,’ regarding the issues that Mr. Smith just addressed,” Eyler said. “If we set the case on a trial docket, whatever trial docket (Smith) wants, that still gives him whatever amount of time between now and then to address the issues that he’s trying to address — which I think are non-existent. But that’s not for me to pursue or to decide. 

“If they’re not going to accept the plea, I would ask that we set this for trial. The (Rowland) family has rights as well, and they need to be able to move forward.”

“I’m inclined to agree with Mr. Eyler,” Henze said.

She placed the case on the November jury docket. A status hearing was scheduled for Oct. 9.

An Adams County grand jury indicted Bynum on Sept. 7, 2023, on three counts of first-degree murder. One count says Bynum shot Jaycob K. Rowland with the intent to kill him. One count says Bynum shot Rowland with the intent to cause great bodily harm. The final count says Bynum shot Rowland “knowing that such acts created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm.”

All three counts are Class M felonies.

Bynum pled not guilty to the charges on Sept. 20, 2023. 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.