One of four arrested as part of November burglary gets five-year prison sentence in plea deal

Ashton Summers sentencing

Ashton Summers, right, sits next to his attorney, Dennis Woodworth, during his plea and sentencing hearing Friday morning in Adams County Circuit Court. | David Adam

QUINCY — One of four men arrested in connection to a Nov. 5, 2023, burglary along North Bottom Road pled guilty on Friday and received a five-year sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Ashton T. Summers, 20, of Quincy, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court with his attorney, Dennis Woodworth, before Judge Tad Brenner. Summers had been charged with residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and possession of a stolen firearm (a .38 Special Smith and Wesson revolver), a Class 2 felony. 

Summers pled guilty Friday to possession of a stolen firearm. In exchange for that plea, the residential burglary charge was dismissed. He was credited for 307 days served in the Adams County Jail. Summers is eligible for 50 percent sentencing under Illinois’ truth in sentencing law.

Summers also was convicted of criminal damage to property, a Class 4 felony. He was given credit for time served in the Adams County Jail.

Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched Nov. 5, 2023, to the North Bottom Road residence. Multiple suspects were identified after surveillance footage was reviewed.

Deputies later that day conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with the burglary. Tynell R. Washington, 39, of the 600 block of N. Seventh and Summers were taken into custody. Two juvenile passengers were released to the custody of their parents.

“There was one individual in particular who was in that car at that location every time, and that individual was not Mr. Summers,” Eyler said. “But there was at least one of those occasions where Mr. Summers is seen on video with the primary culprit here, and you can see him entering buildings and carrying items out of the residence and the outbuildings.”

Two search warrants were executed at 620½ N. Sixth and 606½ N. Seventh. Several stolen items from the burglary, including six firearms and several hundred rounds of ammunition, were found in both residences.

Eyler said Friday that had the case gone to trial, officers from the Adams County Sheriff’s Department reviewed video footage that the North Bottom Road homeowner showing at least three times where a car came to the residence. People got out of the car and entered the home and outbuildings, removing items and placing them in the car.

Eyler then said when Quincy Police Department officers responded to 10th and Hampshire for a report of shots fired on Nov. 5, a car with numerous people seen on the video at the North Bottom Road home was seen. Summers was one of those people. Several firearms taken during the burglary were found in a ditch. 

“Mr. Summers eventually gave a statement, admitted his involvement and admitted his possession,” Eyler said.

Tynell Washington was charged with:

  • Residential burglary, a Class 1 felony.
  • Unlawful possession of a stolen weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony.
  • Unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, a Class 2 felony. 
  • Armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony.

He also is charged with three felonies after his arrest at the shots-fired call from Nov. 5:

  • Armed habitual criminal, a Class X felony.
  • Robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony.
  • Felon in possession of a firearm, a Class 2 felony.

Shaun D. Johnson, 39, was apprehended Nov. 6 at his residence. He was charged with:

  • Residential burglary, a Class 1 felony.
  • Unlawful possession of a stolen weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony.
  • Unlawful possession of a weapon or firearm by a felon, a Class 3 felony. 

Jamar Washington was arrested and charged on Monday, Nov. 13 with residential burglary and possession of stolen property.

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