Quincy man facing attempted murder, armed violence charges files more pro se motions, frustrates attorney

QUINCY — A Quincy man facing six felony charges, including attempted murder and armed violence, filed two pro se motions with the Adams County Circuit Clark in March claiming he was defending himself in a December 2023 stabbing incident.

He wanted his case dismissed, but his attorney at the time chose not to adopt those motions.

Jeremy J. Coleman now has a different attorney, and he filed three more pro se motions last month, asking for the attempted murder and armed violence charges to be dismissed while introducing an affirmative defense of necessity. He also filed pro se motions for hearings to be held on each of his motions.

During a status hearing Tuesday in Adams County Circuit Court, it didn’t sound like Public Defender Mark Taylor had plans to adopt the new motions, either.

Coleman, 30, appeared with Taylor on Tuesday before Judge Tad Brenner. Coleman has been charged with: 

• Two counts of attempted murder, a Class 1 felony punishable for between four and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if found guilty.
• One count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony punishable for between three and seven years in prison.
• One count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony punishable for between two and five years in prison.
• Two counts of armed violence, a Class X felony punishable for between 10 and 30 years in prison.

Coleman is eligible for 50 percent sentencing under Illinois’ truth in sentencing law on the first four counts. He would be eligible for 85 percent sentencing on the two counts of armed violence.

Coleman filed a pro se motion with the Adams County Circuit Clerk’s office on March 1, claiming he was protecting himself from an attack. However, Chief Public Defender Christopher Pratt said during an April 24 status hearing he wanted to strike Coleman’s motions. (Pratt took a new position as a judge this summer.)

Taylor was assigned to Coleman’s case in June, and the trial was set on the October docket.

When Brenner asked Taylor if he planned to adopt Coleman’s motions, he said, “If I’m being honest, I’m not prepared for trial. Mr. Coleman wants to move forward to trial in this case. We disagree on that matter.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Keck understood Taylor’s reluctance to go to trial.

“There are several cases here, and one case involves multiple Class X felonies,” she said. “It’s a very large file. There’s lots of discovery for Mr. Taylor.”

“Mr. Coleman, you understand that your attorney has to prepare for trial, and he has indicated to the court that he cannot be ready due to the nature of the work involved to be ready for trial,” Brenner said. “(Do) you still want to pursue a trial as it is currently scheduled? Even though your attorney is saying he can’t be ready by then?”

“I’m willing to wait,” Coleman said.

Taylor said he thought he could be ready for a November trial, but then made a request.

“I would like to make it part of the record that the court not accept any pro se motions or any other information from this defendant because it’s slowing down the process of this case,” Taylor said. “The constant filing of pro se motions listing out details of this case is making it impossible to move forward with this case.”

“That’s an issue between you and your client,” Brenner replied. “If (Coleman) chooses to file a pro se motion, the question will always be whether you adopt that motion and whether you’re pursuing that motion. As legal advisor and counselor, you can decide whether any pro se pleading that might be filed by Mr. Coleman is worthy of being pursued. Ultimately, that’s going to be your determination as his attorney, I don’t think I can order him not to file pro se motions.”

Brenner placed Coleman’s case on the November jury docket before Judge John Wooleyhan. Coleman’s next appearance in court is a status hearing set for Oct. 8.

Officers responded just before 11 a.m. on Dec. 7 to the 600 block of Van Buren for a disturbance. When officers arrived, they found two victims on the roof of a building, both suffering from stab wounds. Charging documents filed in Adams County Circuit Court show the victims were Sajuada Bonner and her brother, Julian Harper.

In his pro se motion to dismiss the armed violence charge, Coleman said he entered the residence and went upstairs. He wrote he saw Harper had a three-inch knife. He said he talked with Bonner and an argument ensued, and he claims Harper charged in an “aggressive manner” and tried to stab Coleman.

“During the altercation, we started wrestling for the knife,” Coleman wrote.

Coleman said Harper nearly severed Coleman’s index finger, then “punctured” Harper once in the shoulder to de-escalate the situation.

“That’s when Coleman felt (Bonner) grab Coleman from behind,” he wrote. “It startled Coleman, and (he) accidentally swung the knife backwards and accidentally punctured (Bonner’s) skin.”

Coleman said he went to Hannibal Regional Hospital because Bonner worked at Blessing Hospital in Quincy and he “feared for his life.” 

Coleman turned himself into the Adams County Probation Department on the morning of Dec. 8.

He wrote in his motion to dismiss or reduce the attempted murder charge because he was acting in self-defense after he was stabbed. He wrote that he wanted to “put the courts on notice” for his defense of necessity, explaining he shouldn’t be blamed because Harper was trying to stab him.

 “Coleman believes in his heart that stabbing (Harper) was necessary to avoid greater damage,” he wrote.

He remains lodged in the Adams County Jail.