Closing arguments complete in Yohn criminal sexual assault trial; jury begins deliberations

QUINCY — An Adams County jury began deliberation Monday afternoon in the Bradley Yohn criminal sexual assault trial.

The 10-man, two-woman jury has been charged with determining the guilt or innocence of Yohn, 36. He is facing charges of home invasion with a dangerous weapon, home invasion predicated on criminal sexual assault, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon and residential burglary.

He allegedly committed the crimes on Nov. 9, 2021, at the home of Christine “Tina” Lohman Schmitt. She died 33 days later on Dec. 12, 2021.

Deliberations began after the jury was escorted from the courtroom by bailiff Donnie Hummer at 12:12 p.m.

Yohn could be sentenced to serve between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if he’s found guilty of either count of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping or aggravated vehicular hijacking. He could receive four to 15 years if found guilty of residential burglary.

He could receive 16 to 40 years if found guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon. That sentence would be served consecutively with any other count for which he is found guilty. Thomson has discretion in the other five counts, if Yohn is found guilty, to have him serve them consecutively or concurrently.

Yohn had said last week he intended to put Karen Blackledge on the stand. Blackledge allegedly was Yohn’s accomplice on the night Lohman Schmitt was attacked. However, Yohn chose not to, saying “she’s a lost cause.”

Yohn also said he wanted to put Ilsa Terrell on the stand. When confronted with the question of why Yohn didn’t ask all of the questions he wanted to ask Terrell last week, Yohn essentially said he wasn’t prepared and had more things to clear up. Thomson did not allow Terrell to be placed back on the stand.

Yohn did put his father, Bradley Yohn Sr., on the stand briefly Monday morning. However, Yohn Sr. said his memory isn’t very good. His son quickly excused him from the stand. As his father was escorted from the courtroom, Yohn said, “Love you pops.”

During his closing statement, Yohn claimed to have found mistakes and mistruths in the testimony presented by the prosecution. He said he’s a caring loving person. He said his mother didn’t teach him to do this. 

“You want the truth? I’ll tell you the truth. I wasn’t there that night,” he said. “The truth would hurt people in this courtroom today.”

Jones said Lohman Schmitt felt “every tear, every bruise, every burn for every second of every minute for the rest of her life.” He said the people in the courtroom get to move on from this case when it’s over, but “Tina didn’t get a chance to see Yohn be held accountable.”

“Today, Tina doesn’t need help. She needs justice,” Jones said. “Today, the right 12 people are going to show up and do exactly that,” Jones said.