Bynum pleads not guilty to murder charges, could face 45 years to life in prison if found guilty

QUINCY — A Clayton teen facing three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of a Camp Point man pled not guilty Wednesday morning.

Wyond L. Bynum, Jr., 18, appeared Wednesday morning for his arraignment in Adams County Circuit Court with St. Louis-based attorney Victor Smith before Judge Robert Adrian. Smith replaces Public Defender Christopher Pratt, who represented Bynum during a status hearing one week ago.

Bynum was indicted Sept. 7 by an Adams County grand jury, which found Bynum guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. One count says Bynum shot Rowland with the intent to kill him. One count says Bynum shot Jaycob K. 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.

Adrian explained to Bynum that his sentence normally would be for 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.

A status hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Adrian told Smith he will be the judge in Bynum’s case, regardless of the monthly docket it is placed on.

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. Deputies arrested three men at first. They later released two men — friends of Rowland — who brought the body to the Adams County EMS station in Camp Point. The murder weapon was recovered in the West Jefferson residence.

Bynum remains in the Adams County Jail. His bond is $3 million.