Yohn says he’s ready to lose trial so he can leave Adams Co. Jail; 10-man, two-woman jury to hear opening statements at 9 a.m. Tuesday

QUINCY — A jury of 10 males and two females were selected Monday to hear testimony in the aggravated criminal sexual assault case of Bradley Yohn.

Yohn is charged with home invasion with a dangerous weapon, home invasion predicated on criminal sexual assault, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon and residential burglary. He allegedly committed the crimes on Nov. 9, 2021, at the home of Christine “Tina” Lohman Schmitt. 

Yohn appeared in Adams County Circuit Court Monday before Judge Roger Thomson to defend himself pro se with public defender Todd Nelson serving as standby counsel. He was wearing a royal blue dress shirt and navy blue slacks. More important, he was not wearing shackles, which he has complained about during most of his appearances in Adams County Circuit Court.

Jury selection lasted about 7 hours on Monday, with an hour lunch break taken. Thirty-seven potential jurors were questioned before the 12-member jury, along with three alternate jurors (one man and two women), was selected. 

Opening statements are expected to be delivered beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The jury is comprised of eight male jurors from Quincy, one male juror from Payson, one female juror from Quincy, one female juror from Liberty and one male juror from Liberty. The three alternates are from Quincy — two females and one male.

Before jury selection started, Yohn gave the bailiff a handful of motions and subpoenas, including motions to exclude testimony and certain witnesses. Thomson asked why the motions were not filed until Monday. Yohn explained he didn’t get items to write the motions until 10 days ago. He also said he’s been without wi-fi service to do research from his cell for four days. 

Thomson denied the two motions, saying he would deal with each witness as they are called to testify. 

Yohn then claimed someone took thumb drives containing information he planned to use in his defense. He said corrections officers were adamant they wanted to take his thumb drives to make copies for him on Friday.

“Nobody is supposed to be in my discovery box,” he said, calling it a “constitutional violation.”

Yohn said a corrections officer told him he was doing what he was ordered to do. 

“You could tell this was pre-planned,” he said. “Today the thumb drives are not here.” 

Yohn said he was to the point where he’s ready to lose the trial so he can leave the jail. He said he had 14 thumb drives two weeks ago, then lost three. He said he was now down to 10. 

“I feel as if people are trying to sabotage me,” he said. 

Thomson asked Jones to ask the sheriff’s department to investigate the missing thumb drives.

During a break between jury panels later in the morning, Jones said the missing thumb drive had been found. He said he was told Yohn recently threw the thumb drive at a jailer.

“That is not what happened,” Yohn said, calling it a “sorry excuse for taking information out of my box.” He said the incident happened between 2 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. on July 7. He said he threw the thumb drive back into the box where he keeps discovery for his trial. 

When Thomson asked if both sides were ready for jurors, Yohn said, “This courthouse has severe mold issues right now. I ask the jurors be questioned about that so they’re not forced into a courthouse full of mold issues. Also, I don’t want jurors to be holding prejudice towards me, because I’m the reason they’re here today.”

Yohn then said he has a few issues to take up. Asked why he didn’t bring them up on Friday, Yohn replied, “Respectfully stated, I have a lot going on.” 

Thomson thought potential jurors worried about mold would be more upset with the state, which issued the summonses for them to appear on Monday.

Asked again if he was ready for jurors, Yohn said, “I’m not ready, but you’re forcing me to be ready.” 

Most of the questions from Jones started by asking if jurors could avoid showing favor for or prejudice against Yohn because he’s representing himself. Most of Yohn’s questions centered on whether jurors had paid attention to the case in the media and social media.

Many of the potential jurors not selected for the jury were rejected — by Thomson for cause or by Yohn with his 10 challenges — because of their relationships with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department or the Adams County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Yohn could be sentenced to serve between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if he’s found guilty of either count of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping or aggravated vehicular hijacking. He could receive four to 15 years if found guilty of residential burglary.

He could receive 16 to 40 years if found guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon. That sentence would be served consecutively with any other count for which he is found guilty. Thomson has discretion in the other five counts, if Yohn is found guilty, to have him serve them consecutively or concurrently.