Yohn pleads not guilty at arraignment; case placed on Jan. 10 jury docket

November 30, 2021 | By David Adam, MRN Editor

John Citro with the Adams County Public Defender's office speaks with Bradley Yohn during Yohn's arraignment in Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon. In the background are John Ervin, left, and Kelsey Soebbing, court security officers with the Adams County Sheriff's Department. | Pool photo courtesy of Herald-Whig

QUINCY — A Springfield man pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon to charges of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated criminal sexual assault and residential burglary.

Bradley S. Yohn, 34, was arraigned in Adams County Circuit Court, where he waived a formal reading of his charges and made his plea before Judge Amy Lannerd.

Lannerd put Yohn’s case on the Jan. 10 jury docket. A pretrial hearing was set for Jan. 3. A status hearing was set for Dec. 14.

Yohn was charged with one count of vehicular hijacking, a Class X felony punishable for between six to 30 years, after allegedly taking a motor vehicle from a woman on Oct. 31.

He faces six counts in connection with an incident on Nov. 9 along North Bottom Road in Adams County. He has been charged with two counts of home invasion, and one count each of aggravated kidnapping (allegedly using a knife), aggravated vehicular hijacking— all Class X felonies punishable for between six to 30 years in prison. He also was charged with residential burglary, a Class 1 felony punishable for between four and 15 years in prison.

He also was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault for knowingly committing the act of sexual penetration through the use of force — a Class X felony punishable for between 16 and 40 years in prison.

After Lannerd read each of the counts in the Nov. 9 case, she asked Yohn if he understood the charge against him. For five of the six counts, Yohn said he understood. However, after Lannerd asked if he understood the count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, Yohn replied, “No.”

“I’m going to give you a minute with your attorney,” Lannerd replied. “But before I do so, I’ll just remind you for today’s purposes, the purpose of the arraignment is to make sure that you understand what they have charged you with.”

Yohn then briefly spoke with John Citro with the public defender’s office. When Lannerd against again if he understood the count, Yohn replied, “It’s very sick, your honor. Yes, I do.”

Yohn also faces four counts in connection with an incident on Oct. 15 at 828 1/2 York. He has been charged with one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony punishable for between four and 15 years in prison; two counts of theft or unauthorized control of property over $500 but under $10,000, a Class 3 felony punishable for between two and 10 years in prison; and one count of criminal sexual abuse, a Class 4 felony punishable for between one and three years in prison.

Karen Blackledge of Quincy, who was arrested with Yohn on Nov. 10 by the United States Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Apprehension Unit in Springfield, Ill., is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning.

Yohn remains in the Adams County Jail. His bond is $15 million, believed to be the highest bond ever set in Adams County.