Yohn picks up another felony for illegally possessing thumb drives in Adams County Jail

QUINCY — A Springfield man defending himself against criminal sexual assault charges in Quincy picked up another felony charge earlier this month.

Bradley Yohn, 35, was charged Nov. 15 in Adams County Circuit Court with three counts of possessing contraband in a penal institution, a Class 1 felony. If he’s found guilty, he faces between 4 and 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Charging documents filed in Adams County show Yohn possessed electronic contraband in the form of thumb drives in the Adams County Jail. 

Yohn also has been charged with communicating with a witness, a Class 3 felony. Charging documents show he communicated false information to Karen Blackledge with the intent of preventing her from testifying “freely, fully and truthfully.” 

Blackledge and Yohn were arrested Nov. 10, 2021 in Springfield in connection with an incident on Nov. 9, 2021, when Blackledge acknowledged in court she illegally entered a home on Quincy’s North Bottom Road. While in the home, she used a weapon to penetrate Christine “Tina” Schmitt, who died on Dec. 12, 2021. Blackledge pled guilty on May 5 and received two 20-year sentences to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Yohn is defending himself against charges of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon. He allegedly committed the crimes on Nov. 9, 2021, at Schmitt’s home. Yohn could be sentenced to serve between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if he’s found guilty of any Class X felony.

He is due in court Wednesday morning for a status hearing in that case.

He also was charged Oct. 14 with threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony. Judge Tad Brenner set bail at $100,000 and assigned public defender Todd Nelson as Yohn’s attorney. 

A charging document filed in Adams County Circuit Court claims Yohn said to correctional officer Cole Anderson, “I will get you, b*tch. I don’t care about no charge. When I get out, I will get you and kill you, b*tch. It doesn’t matter if I’m threatening you. They won’t charge me anyways. You’re dead, b*tch.”

Yohn also allegedly said he would “get” Anderson’s mother and sister first so Anderson had to watch.