Yohn pleads not guilty to allegedly threatening to kill correctional officer in Adams County Jail

November 1, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor

Bradley Yohn is led out of a courtroom in the Adams County Courthouse in this May 18 file photo. | File photo by David Adam

QUINCY — Bradley Yohn of Springfield, who is preparing to defend himself against criminal sexual assault charges in a Nov. 2021 incident, was arraigned and pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to another felony charge he picked up Oct. 14 for allegedly threatening to kill a correctional officer in the Adams County Jail.

Yohn, 35, appeared in Adams County Circuit Court with public defender Todd Nelson before Judge Amy Lannerd. As Lannerd read the charges against Yohn, he smiled quietly and shook his head.

Lannerd placed the case on the January jury docket. She also extended the deadline for discovery to Nov. 14 so assistant state’s attorney Josh Jones could address a motion for video discovery made Oct. 17 by Nelson.

An Adams County grand jury indicted Yohn on Oct. 27. The bill of indictment alleges 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.”

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

Yohn is charged with threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony punishable for between two and five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if he is found guilty. Judge Tad Brenner set bail at $100,000 during Yohn’s first appearance on Oct. 14.

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 the home of Christine “Tina” Schmitt, who died on Dec. 12. 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.

Yohn is being held in the Adams County Jail on a $15 million bond, believed to be the largest ever set in Adams County.