Courts, Police & Fire

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Area teen hurt by fireworks in Villa Grove

VILLA GROVE – A 16-year-old girl was burned Friday night by fireworks set off by the same company that had problems at Lodge Park near Monticello on Thursday night, injuring nine.

Because she's a minor, Villa Grove police officer Adam Deckard wouldn't release the girl's name but said she was from Rantoul and was taken to a Springfield hospital by helicopter around 9:45 p.m.

Thieves hit business twice in one week

CHAMPAIGN – Twice last week, a Champaign business was broken into and had merchandise stolen.

Champaign police reports said on Sunday, June 29, someone broke the front door at Real Talk Communications in the 800 block of West Bradley Avenue and stole six speakers and amplifiers.

Fire destroys vacant house in Danville

DANVILLE – A vacant home that was slated to be torn down soon was destroyed by fire Saturday.

Danville fire Capt. David Brady said firefighters were called to the two-story house at 1109 Chandler just before 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Changes improve traffic situation after fireworks

CHAMPAIGN – It may not have been perfect, but traffic appeared to move a little more rapidly following Friday's Champaign County Freedom Celebration fireworks show than it did a year ago, when massive gridlock characterized the event's aftermath.

There were several bottlenecks on Mattis Avenue, but traffic moved fairly steadily on Bradley Avenue. All but one Parkland College parking lot was clear within 45 minutes of the end of the show, according to Champaign police Sgt. Scott Friedlein, who monitored the situation from an airplane.

Specialists called to investigate fireworks accident

MONTICELLO – A team of state investigators gathered at Lodge Park near Monticello on Friday afternoon after stray shells from a fireworks display landed in a crowd the previous evening.

Piatt County Sheriff's Department Sergeant J. D. Russell said about four shells branched off from one firework during Thursday's annual show in Monticello.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Blaze in rural Newtown under investigation

RURAL NEWTOWN – Fire investigators still are trying to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a home north of Newtown early Wednesday morning.

Oakwood firefighters were called to the blaze at 23344 North 900 East Road shortly after midnight. When they arrived, the one-story wood-frame home was engulfed in flames, said Tony Frye, chief of the Oakwood Fire Protection District.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Fire investigation points to electrical problem

CHAMPAIGN – An investigation into a house fire at 1733 Anita Drive, Champaign, will continue Thursday, Champaign Fire Department officials said.

The fire was reported about 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday after fencing contractors working across the street spotted smoke coming from the single-story house.

Arcola house fires under investigation

ARCOLA – About 30 firefighters from Arcola and Arthur spent a few hours Wednesday evening putting out two fires in Arcola.

Firefighters were called out to 214 N. Pine St. about 4 p.m., Arcola Fire Chief Josh Truex said.

Woman accused of having pot for sale from her car

URBANA – An Urbana woman is accused of having marijuana for sale in her car in an Urbana school parking lot.

Latoya Keys, 22, who listed an address in the 2000 block of South Vawter Street, is due to return to court Sept. 9 for a pretrial hearing. She was arraigned and pleaded innocent Monday to a Class 3 felony charge of possession with intent to deliver marijuana within 500 feet of a school. Her bond was set at $1,500 and she was released after posting 10 percent bail.

Extra patrols will be on lookout for drunken drivers

Additional troopers will be patrolling highways for the sake of holiday safety.

State police and local departments will conduct 100 roadside safety checks and hundreds of "saturation patrols" in a statewide safety campaign that will continue through July 6, according to Master Sgt. Brian Ley, state police public information officer.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Seventeen firefighters respond to Champaign fire

The Champaign Fire Department was called to the 1700 block of Anita Drive, Champaign, on Wednesday after smoke was sighted emanating from a single-story house.

Arriving at the scene at about 4:45 p.m., the firefighters found a northeast room at 1733 Anita Drive was engulfed in flames and fire had gotten into the house's attic. They pulled the ceiling in order to fight the blaze.

Clock tower's contractor will pay for jury snafu

URBANA – Neither jurors nor taxpayers will be stuck with the bill for a communications snafu at the Champaign County Courthouse.

Presiding Judge Tom Difanis ordered 66 would-be jurors sent home June 2 because the jury assembly room, just below the courthouse's clock tower, was filled with workers and equipment being used for the tower's renovation.

Autopsy: Boy's death a drowning

CHAMPAIGN – A 3-year-old Indiana boy drowned Monday, according to an autopsy report released Tuesday.

The Champaign County Coroner's office reported that an autopsy was performed Tuesday morning on Wyatt D. DeJesus of Linton, Ind. Toxicology tests are still pending and an inquest may be scheduled at a later date, the coroner's office stated in a release.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Robbery, attempted robberies investigated

Police in Champaign and Urbana are investigating a robbery and two attempted robberies.

About 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, a 37-year-old St. Joseph man was sitting in his vehicle at a traffic light at North Neil Street and Kenyon Road in Champaign when a man approached him and asked for money. When the driver said he didn't have any, the man who approached cut the driver on the arm with a knife and ran off.

Urbana turns to Web to recruit firefighters

URBANA – "Urbana firefighter" would like to meet you on MySpace, but be warned: He's 134 years old.

His favorite movies are "Ladder 49," "Backdraft" and "The Towering Inferno." Favorite TV: "Rescue Me," "Third Watch."

Search results in felony drug charges

URBANA – A man and woman are accused of having more than a third of a pound of cocaine for sale at or near an Urbana apartment.

Arraigned Monday on Class X felony charges of possession with intent to deliver 100 to 400 grams of cocaine were Theodore Brown, 30, who listed an address in the 1400 block of Campbell Drive, Rantoul, and Haley Spesard, 22, who listed an address in the 1900 block of North Cunningham Avenue, Urbana.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Boy dies in apparent drowning

URBANA – Champaign police and the Champaign County coroner are investigating the reported drowning death of a 3-year-old boy from Indiana.

Coroner Duane Northrup said Wyatt Daniel DeJesus of Linton, Ind., was pronounced dead at 1:16 p.m. Monday at Carle Foundation Hospital's emergency room.

Justice system makes switch to new software

URBANA – If there's a sense of tension emanating from certain employees at the Champaign County Courthouse this week, don't take it personally. Several of them will be getting their first real taste of new computer software that's been in the works for five years.

Today is the "go live" date for the circuit clerk, probation, public defender and circuit court employees, the last of the justice system to make the switch. The state's attorney's office has been using the software for more than a couple of years. The sheriff's office also has a compatible version that has been in use more than three years.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Accused in drunken-driving accident had prior convictions

URBANA – A Potomac man charged with seriously injuring a Rantoul man in a drunken driving accident in May has two prior convictions for driving under the influence.

James B. Daly, 40, of Potomac, was arraigned Friday on two counts of aggravated driving under the influence alleging that on May 24, he drove while he was under the influence, causing great bodily harm to James Marron, 81, and while his license was revoked due to two prior convictions for DUI.

Bolingbrook man charged with criminal sexual assault

URBANA – A Bolingbrook man on probation for an incident involving getting alcohol for underage girls was charged Friday with criminal sexual assault of a 16-year-old.

Assistant State's Attorney Rob Scales said Kenneth Draughon, 20, is accused of having sex with the girl against her will at an apartment in the 200 block of East Armory Avenue in Champaign. He met her through her Facebook page, Scales said. Scales said the girl got into an argument Wednesday with her mother and left her home. She sent Draughon a text message asking him to take her to the train station so she could run away.

Last of four men charged in home invasion arraigned

URBANA – The last of four men charged in connection with a St. Joseph home invasion has been arraigned.

Isiah Evans, 19, of Chicago, appeared in Champaign County Circuit Court on Friday and was arraigned on two counts of home invasion, two counts of armed robbery and a count of residential burglary in connection with a May 1 incident at a home in the 1500 block of Locust in St. Joseph.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Charges filed against Potomac man in DUI death

URBANA – Additional charges may be filed against a Potomac man following the death of a man who was critically injured in a May vehicle collision.

Assistant State's Attorney Chris Kanis on Thursday afternoon filed aggravated driving under the influence charges against James Daly, 40, alleging he caused great bodily harm to James "Bud" Marron, 81, of Rantoul, in a May 24 collision.

Man injured in Champaign shooting

A man was injured Thursday evening after being shot in the leg at a Champaign home, police say.

Champaign Police Department spokeswoman Rene Dunn said police were called to a home in the 1200 block of Joanne Lane at 9:38 p.m. The victim was taken to a local hospital but did not appear to have life-threatening injuries, Dunn said.

Suspects sought in Champaign fire

CHAMPAIGN – Police are looking for one or more people who started fires outside a Champaign home on Tuesday.

According to a Champaign police report, a boat trailer, tarp, exterior house siding and screen tent were damaged by a fire on the 3100 block of Sylvan Street at 3:50 a.m. Tuesday.

Fire service institute gets federal grant

An almost $1 million grant to the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute will support research that could eventually help to reduce heart attacks among firefighters.

The $985,661 grant is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, U.S. Rep. Timothy Johnson, R-Urbana, announced this week.

Resident says privacy rights violated

CHAMPAIGN – A Housing Authority resident accused the executive director of violating his right to privacy in his home.

But a sheriff's deputy said what the resident described didn't happen.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Police search for shooter of Danville man

DANVILLE – Danville police are investigating a Tuesday evening shooting that injured a man.

Deputy police Director Bob Richard said a 37-year-old man received a gunshot wound to the leg. The man, who was not identified, was taken to Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, then transferred to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Fire on Oakwood pole puts about 980 in dark

CHAMPAIGN – About 980 Ameren IP customers in Oakwood were without power for a few hours Tuesday evening.

Ameren Spokeswoman Natalie Hemmer said a fire on a pole at 6 p.m. caused the outage.

Fourth suspect in home invastion turns himself in

URBANA – A fourth man wanted in connection with a May home invasion in St. Joseph is expected to be back in Urbana later this week.

Champaign County sheriff's Lt. Ed Ogle said Isiah A. Evans, 19, of Chicago, turned himself in to Kankakee County authorities about 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Number of fees weighed for Danville fire revenue

DANVILLE – If Medix Ambulance takes you to the hospital for an emergency, the ride will cost between $540 and $590 plus mileage.

If the Danville Fire Department takes you because Medix is tied up, you don't pay a dime.

One Danville alderman thinks it's time that changed.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Riding lawn mower stolen from shed earlier this month

ROYAL – Burglars made off with a riding mower from a rural Royal farm shed sometime this month.

Champaign County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Coile said the 42-inch Dixon riding mower, valued at $1,900, was stolen from a shed on County Road 2500 E. The owner of the shed discovered the break-in Sunday, Coile said. It happened after June 12. Also stolen was a battery charger worth $25.

Ogden man accused of fondling daughter's young guests

URBANA – An Ogden man accused of inappropriate contact with two of his daughter's friends is scheduled to be back in court Aug. 19.

Bobby Morris, 39, was arraigned Monday on two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The counts allege that in January and again in May, he fondled and kissed the feet of girls under the age of 13 for his own sexual arousal.

Allhands' trial will stay in Vermilion County for now

DANVILLE – When Ryan Allhands stands trial later this year on charges of shaking 2½-year-old Reagan Williams to death, he most likely will be judged by a jury of Vermilion County residents.

Vermilion County Circuit Judge Michael Clary on Monday denied Allhands' request to move his murder trial out of the county. At this time, he said, there isn't enough evidence to show that the publicity surrounding Reagan's death or Allhands' case has prejudiced potential jurors.

Hume man faces multiple charges

URBANA – A Hume man with prior convictions was arraigned Monday on charges of residential burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Jeffrey Marcrum, 39, is accused of breaking into an apartment in the 600 block of South Prairie Street, Champaign, on Friday by cutting a screen in a basement window. He is alleged to have stolen an iPod Shuffle and keys to a car.

Jury interviews to steer proceedings after second mistrial

URBANA – A Champaign County prosecutor said he wants to speak to some of the jurors who couldn't reach a verdict in a weapons-related case before deciding how to proceed.

For the second time, a Champaign County jury could not come to a unanimous verdict in the case of Roland McFarland, 30, whose last known address was in the 200 block of West Beardsley Avenue, Champaign.

Fisher man accused of sexual abuse

URBANA – A Fisher man is due in court Aug. 19 after being charged Monday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Charles Fleming, 37, was arraigned on five counts of the Class 2 felony alleging that between June 14 and 17 and on June 18, he fondled the chest and genital area of a 7-year-old girl who was in his care.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Autopsy today in apparent drowning

SHELBYVILLE – An autopsy was scheduled for today on a man who apparently drowned in Lake Shelbyville on Saturday evening.

Shelby County Coroner Brian Green said the man, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was swimming with a group of friends in a cove on the lake about 6:20 p.m.

Woman's bond set at $750,000

URBANA – Bond was set at $750,000 Sunday for a 30-year-old Urbana woman who allegedly stabbed to death a man she shared an apartment with.

Vera M. Simmons is facing a first-degree murder charge and was being held Sunday night in the downtown Champaign County Jail. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Champaign County Circuit Court at 1:30 p.m. today.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Man found dead; woman in jail

URBANA – A 30-year-old Urbana woman was arrested Saturday after she allegedly stabbed to death the man she shared an apartment with.

Vera M. Simmons of 2006 Vawter St., U, was being held Saturday night without bond in the Champaign County Jail on a charge of homicide.

131-year-old clock will be ready to take its spot in new tower

URBANA – Job opening: Keeper of the clock. Must be able to climb seven stories and spend at least 20 minutes winding a massive clock.

The keeper need only work one day a week. It takes that long for weights to fall in the Champaign County Courthouse's 1877 Seth Thomas timepiece.

Officers doing part to conserve gas

With the price of fuel nearing $4 a gallon, Sheriff Dan Walsh told patrol deputies this spring that he wanted them to periodically go to a higher police-call area, choose a prominent, preferably shady, location, put the vehicle in park, turn off the engine and sit there.

Just sit there – for at least an hour a shift, if possible – to reduce the amount of gas deputies were consuming.

Arrest made in shooting of girl

URBANA – A 7-year-old Urbana girl was shot in the leg late Friday morning when a man inside an apartment fired a shot as the girl's mother, who didn't have her keys with her, tried to force open a window to their apartment.

Shaferual M. Hunt, 30, who lives in the apartment at 1726 E. Colorado Ave. with the mother and daughter, was arrested by Urbana police on preliminary charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm. He was not being held at the Champaign County Jail as of Saturday.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Apartment building takes heavy damage

CHAMPAIGN – Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that damaged the Twin Oaks apartment complex on West Bradley Avenue on Friday afternoon.

The roof of the two-story, 12-unit building at 2427 W. Bradley Ave. was burned through, and the west end and back of the building were heavily damaged. No injuries were reported.

Paxton, police sued over accident

URBANA – A lawsuit pending in federal court seeks more than $825,000 in damages from the city of Paxton, its police chief and one police officer for the wrongful death of a rural Rantoul man who was allegedly struck by a vehicle and killed while walking along U.S. 45.

Rantoul attorney Paul R. Wilson Jr. filed the 11-count civil suit in U.S. District Court in Urbana on behalf of Rantoul resident Ronald Loy, the father of Joseph Loy, 34, who died last May after a Paxton police officer allegedly gave him a ride to near the north edge of Ludlow.

Trial date set for suspect in 2007 shooting

TUSCOLA – A trial date has been set for one of the men accused of killing Douglas County Chief Deputy Tommy Martin.

The trial for William B. Thompson, 27, will start Feb. 9, 2009, at the Macon County Courthouse in Decatur. Thompson and his co-defendant, Yusef K. Brown, 24, are accused of shooting Mr. Martin in the midst of a crime spree occurring one year ago today. The men are also accused of a home invasion in rural Camargo that day, and Thompson is accused of taking about seven hostages at First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust in Arcola.

Teens arrested after fire destroys Danville houses

DANVILLE – Two Danville teens were being held on Friday in connection with suspicious fires that destroyed two vacant houses earlier this week.

Ernesto Vasquez, 17, who listed an address in the 1000 block of North Hazel Street, was charged in Vermilion County Circuit Court with two counts of arson, a Class 2 felony.

Youth who broke fellow student's jaw to be sentenced Aug. 8

URBANA – A 17-year-old Champaign youth who admitted he struck a fellow Centennial student in the face will be sentenced Aug. 8.

Despite the youth's claim that he hit the other student in self-defense, Judge Tom Difanis on Friday convicted the boy of aggravated battery causing serious bodily harm in a juvenile court hearing.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Fire damaged Twin Oaks apartment complex in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN — Fire damaged the Twin Oaks apartment complex on West Bradley Avenue this afternoon.

The roof of the two-story, 12-unit building at 2427 W. Bradley Ave. was burned through, and the west end and back of the building were heavily damaged, according to witnesses.

Former grain co-op manager to pay $100,000 penalty

WATSEKA – A manager for the former Watseka Farmers Grain Co. Cooperative has been ordered to pay $100,000 in civil penalties in connection with his activities that led to the bankruptcy of the co-op four years ago.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced Thursday afternoon that it had received a permanent court injunction against Cameron Charles of Watseka.

Deaths ruled as homicides, suicide

URBANA – A Champaign County coroner's jury ruled that an Urbana man killed his wife and daughter then killed himself last fall.

The jury took only minutes to find that the Dec. 6 deaths of Sarah Reed, 30, and her daughter Madeline Reed-Moss, 14 months, were homicides and that the death of Mark E. Moss, 30, was a suicide.

Man pleads innocent to abusing baby girl

URBANA – A man accused of abusing his infant daughter claimed he was rubbing the girl's belly to calm her, a prosecutor said in court Thursday.

Morgan Garlick, 26, who listed an address in the 200 block of West Green Street, was arraigned and pleaded innocent Thursday to a Class X felony charge of aggravated battery to a child under age 13. Judge John Kennedy set bond at $500,000 for Garlick, who is due to return to court for a pretrial hearing Aug. 5.

Two other suspects in St. Joseph attack arraigned

URBANA – Two more men accused of an attack on a St. Joseph couple are due to return to court after being arraigned Thursday.

Arraigned on Class X felony charges of home invasion and armed robbery were Jamal T. Williams and Chad K. Todd, both 20-year-old Chicago men. Both were arrested on warrants charging them each with two counts of home invasion and armed robbery and one count of residential burglary.

Crash deaths all judged to be accidents

URBANA – In other inquests Thursday, the jury ruled the deaths of three men in two separate crashes to be accidental.

– Delt Baines, 66, of Champaign, and his friend, Ronald Huffman Sr., 64, of Clinton, each died from injuries they received on April 23 when a car crossed over the center line of U.S. 150 near Ogden and hit their motorcycles head-on.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Autopsy set for man killed in truck-motorcycle accident

CHAMPAIGN – An autopsy was scheduled for today on a Champaign man who died from injuries he received when his motorcycle collided with a truck in northwest Champaign early Wednesday.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Fabian said Caleb Roch, 20, died at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Weather cause of three accidents

CHAMPAIGN – There were no major injuries in a succession of accidents that happened Sunday at U.S. 136 and county road 1100 east in Champaign County.

The Illinois State Police reported that blackout conditions caused by weather and a dust storm in the area were to blame for three accidents along the road.

Police issue minor consumption ticket

PAXTON – A Rankin teen was cited for drinking alcohol after crashing her car in southern Ford County on Monday night.

Illinois State Police at Ashkum refused to release the name of the 16-year-old girl who was injured on Illinois 9 near County Road 2450 E, about 5 miles east of Paxton, about 10:15 p.m. Monday.

Father faces arraignment for battery of an infant

URBANA – A Champaign man is expected to be arraigned today for aggravated battery to a child for injuries he is accused of inflicting on his infant daughter.

Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said Morgan Garlick, 26, who listed an address in the 200 block of West Green Street, Champaign, was arrested Tuesday after the girl's mother took the baby to the hospital Monday night.

Three men charged in St. Joseph home invasion

URBANA – Three men are in custody in Champaign County, charged in connection with a brutal attack on an elderly couple in their St. Joseph home last month.

Arrested Wednesday were Jamal T. Williams, 20, of Chicago and Chad K. Todd, 20, who listed an address at the Campus Connections apartments on North Lincoln Avenue in Urbana. Sheriff Dan Walsh said this morning that those arrests were made at Campus Connections about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Truck-motorcycle crash kills Champaign man

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign man was killed as a result of an accident that closed traffic on Interstate Drive in northwest Champaign Wednesday morning.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Fabian said Caleb Roch, 20, died at 6:44 a.m. today.

Former fire chief will return to post in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – As expected, Doug Forsman will be back for a return stint as Champaign's fire chief.

City Manager Steve Carter announced this morning he had appointed Forsman to serve as chief, starting Aug. 6, at a salary of $135,000.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Danville resident charged with aggravated robbery

DANVILLE – A 25-year-old Danville man faces robbery charges for allegedly trying to hold up a fast-food restaurant on Saturday night.

Cody M. Weaver, who listed an address in the 400 block of Warrington Drive, was charged in Vermilion County Circuit Court on Monday with one count of aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony, and one count of robbery, a Class 2 felony.

Firefighters' contract on Champaign council's agenda

CHAMPAIGN – The city council will consider a three-year contract for city firefighters tonight.

The agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2007, provides across-the-board raises of 3.25 percent for the first year and 3.75 percent for the next two years for the city's 99 firefighters. The deal runs through June 30, 2010.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Police seek leads on series of burglaries, theft in Champaign

Champaign County Crimestoppers and the Champaign County sheriff's office is seeking information on burglaries and a motor vehicle theft in the Lincolnshire Fields area in southwest Champaign.

Between May 26 and May 29, there were residential burglaries, vehicle burglaries and a vehicle theft between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Jon White case: How could this happen?

Jon White could have been stopped much earlier.

There were at least seven warning points at which a school employee in either Urbana or McLean County could have justified a call to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

No one did.

Officials train in ways to head off in-custody deaths

Not too long ago, the following call might have made a 911 operator roll his or her eyes and maybe even chuckle: a naked man pounding on doors yelling incoherently.

Police dispatchers and officers in Champaign County now know those are the warning signs of a medical crisis, not necessarily a crime in progress.

Probe on drugs nets first arrest

CAMARGO – A 22-year-old Camargo man was arrested Friday morning after an investigation into drugs in Villa Grove and Camargo.

Jerald T. Shanks of Camargo was arrested on a charge of possession with intent to deliver less than 15 grams of a controlled substance.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Drug court class thrills judge

URBANA – Champaign County Judge Jeff Ford had a pleasant surprise as he was researching the current class of drug court clients set to graduate on Monday.

He couldn't find any new criminal cases that any of them had picked up while under his supervision.

Man arrested in crash that killed one, injured another

ARCOLA – A Charleston man was arrested after being treated for injuries he received in a crash that killed one other man and injured another early Friday.

State police reported that Seth John Brooks, 24, of Charleston was arrested after he was treated and released at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Coles County. He was cited for aggravated driving under the influence and reckless driving, according to state police. Brooks was being held in the Douglas County Jail on Friday afternoon.

46-year-old gets 9 1/2 years for drug conviction

URBANA – A Champaign man who described himself as a "closet" crack cocaine addict was sentenced Friday to 9½ years in prison for his first and only criminal conviction.

In May, a Champaign County jury convicted Jeff Ashworth, 46, of the 700 block of South Lynn Street, Champaign, of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance after 15.7 grams of crack cocaine and packaging materials associated with cocaine were found in his home Aug. 31, 2007.

Court dealing with teen burglaries

URBANA – Justin Chapman said he was robbed not only of his property, but his sense of security by a break-in to his condo in west Champaign earlier this year.

"We did everything right: we had all the doors locked, all the windows locked," Chapman said after a 16-year-old male was sentenced Thursday to juvenile prison for the residential burglary Feb. 29.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Urbana man convicted in drug case

URBANA – An Urbana man who had more than a pound of cocaine in a safe in his apartment almost two years ago faces a lengthy prison term when he's sentenced next month.

A Champaign County jury on Thursday convicted Ryan Randle, 29, whose last known address was in the 500 block of South Glover Street, of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The five men and seven women deliberated about 90 minutes.h.

Mahomet teenager pleads guilty to damaging vehicle

MONTICELLO – A Mahomet teen pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal charges in connection with incidents involving dropping bags or balloons on passing vehicles on Interstate 74 from an overpass on March 29.

Kyle Vilven, 18, who listed an address in Mahomet, agreed Wednesday to a plea agreement.

No one hurt in cooking fire at Champaign home

CHAMPAIGN – A cooking fire caused an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 damage to a house in Champaign on Thursday.

Champaign fire Deputy Chief Tim Wild said one youth was home at 1313 Frederick St. when a brother came home and saw smoke coming from the eaves. The fire department was called at 3:54 p.m.

Woman pleads guilty to false police report at Monticello school

MONTICELLO – A Monticello woman has pleaded guilty to a charge in connection with scrawling a threat on the mirror of a Monticello High School bathroom in the spring of 2007.

Josephine Pierce, 19, pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor charge of making a false report to police.

Defendant requests that trial be moved

DANVILLE – The attorney for the man accused of shaking 2½-year-old Reagan Williams to death in 2006 wants his client's trial moved out of Vermilion County.

Vermilion County Public Defender Robert McIntire on Thursday filed a motion for change of place of trial, citing "extensive" pretrial publicity from local media, as well as through a shaken baby syndrome public awareness and education campaign launched by Reagan's relatives.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Urbana man accused of intruding on youths at home

URBANA – An Urbana man is accused of trespassing at an apartment where some children were watching television.

Edward Durkin, 52, who listed an address in the 700 block of South Urbana Street, was arraigned Tuesday on a felony charge of criminal trespass. He was released on his own recognizance and is due to return to court with a private attorney June 24.

hildren were watching television.

Former LaBamba worker pleads innocent to taking funds

CHAMPAIGN – Police are continuing to investigate a woman accused of stealing from a Champaign restaurant chain where she worked.

Jean Shaffer, 21, of Mahomet, is due to return to court July 29 for a pretrial hearing on a charge of felony theft between $10,000 and $100,000. She was arraigned and pleaded innocent to the charge June 5.

Ex-fire chief is top candidate for his old job in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – The city's next fire chief could be a familiar name and face to longtime residents.

Douglas Forsman, who was Champaign's fire chief from 1980 to 1992, will be the only candidate interviewed Friday when he comes to town to meet with a city advisory panel. He is currently fire chief and chief administrative officer for the Union Colony Fire/Rescue Authority in Greeley, Colo., a position he's held for more than six years.

Jury convicts Champaign man of battering police

URBANA – A Champaign man who struggled with at least five Champaign police officers who tried to get him into custody was convicted Wednesday of aggravated battery to two of them.

Raymond Wrencher, 38, whose last known address was in the 400 block of West Maple Street, is serving a six-year prison sentence for possessing crack cocaine in Champaign on Aug. 6, 2007.

Coroner's jury says man's death was accident

DANVILLE – A Vermilion County coroner's jury on Wednesday ruled the death of a 24-year-old Oakwood man who was struck by car in front of the Halfway Inn west of Danville was an accident.

The jury also recommended that the Illinois Department of Transportation and various lawmakers consider adding lighting to U.S. 150 from the Colonial Manor nursing home to the intersection at Henning Road to prevent accidents like the one that killed Jody Wood.

Shooting death ruled a homicide

DANVILLE – Danville police are still looking for a sixth person involved in the May 22 shooting death of a 28-year-old Danville man, an investigator said Wednesday.

Detective Keith Garrett testified at a Vermilion County coroner's inquest for Kenneth R. Sims that several people have been charged in connection with the shooting and are awaiting trial.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Man still hospitalized after crash

SADORUS – A Rantoul man remained hospitalized this morning with injuries he received in an alcohol-related crash in southern Champaign County early Monday.

Champaign County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Coile said Dustin M. Vericker, 20, of 817 Roselyn Drive, was found outside his car on County Road 500 N near 800 E by a man who lives in that area, about 5:20 a.m. Monday.

Suspect has history of refusing to cooperate

URBANA – A Champaign man sentenced to prison in May but who did not turn himself in as ordered to begin serving that sentence was arrested Monday on a warrant and then would not cooperate Tuesday for arraignment on a new drug charge.

Judge Richard Klaus ordered Champaign County corrections officials to ship Maurice Beauregard, 25, whose last known address was in the 1000 block of Pomona Drive, Champaign, to state prison as soon as possible if Beauregard continued not to cooperate at the jail today. Klaus set bond for Beauregard on the new drug charge at $250,000.

Man charged with burglary after police discover fingerprint

URBANA – A Champaign man faces prison if convicted of a residential burglary in central Champaign, where police say they found his fingerprint.

Christopher Baker, 18, who listed an address in the 300 block of Alms Avenue, was arraigned and pleaded innocent Tuesday to a Class 1 felony charge of residential burglary.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Man alleges racial profiling by Paxton police

PAXTON – A black man facing charges of cocaine distribution claims Paxton police used racial profiling and bombarded him with traffic tickets to get him to move out of town before his arrest this spring.

Gibson City attorney William J. Dueringer said in a motion filed in Ford County Circuit Court on May 29 that his client, Paul E. Bigham, who listed an address in the 200 block of North Union Street in Paxton, was arrested by Paxton police on eight separate occasions in the last year.

Ex-cop out of jail after guilty plea

DANVILLE – After close to 14 months behind bars, a former Belgium police officer who was accused of using his position to sexually abuse several women is a free man, but he won't be able to return to law enforcement.

David L. Lewis, 46 – of Lafayette, Ind., and formerly of Danville – was released Monday from the Vermilion County Jail after pleading guilty to amended charges: two counts of attempted obstruction of justice and two counts of attempted official misconduct, Class A misdemeanors. The remaining 41 felony counts he faced were dismissed.

Onarga man dies in crash

LODA – An Onarga man died following a one-vehicle accident in Loda on Monday afternoon.

According to reports from the Iroquois County Sheriff's Department, Juan Ramirez, 34, was killed when a vehicle driven by Patricia Montero-Rodriguez, 24, of Urbana overturned and ejected Mr. Ramirez.

Girl goes missing, phones start ringing

VILLA GROVE – About 10 p.m. Sunday, Janet Shelby realized that one of her 9-year-old twin girls was missing from their home on Madison Avenue in Villa Grove.

Checking with her ex- husband, Steve Shelby, she learned that their daughter, Marissa, was not at his apartment several blocks away.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Alleged thefts blamed on price of scrap metal

TUSCOLA – Douglas County Sheriff Charlie McGrew says thefts of scrap metal and other metal may be on the rise because of rising costs of metal commodities.

And two recent incidents illustrate that trend.

Missing Villa Grove girl located

VILLA GROVE – Scores of searchers spent several hours early today looking for a 9-year-old Villa Grove girl who had spent the night with a friend without her parents knowing.

Villa Grove police spokeswoman Beth Elston said Marissa Shelby was returned home safely early today when the mother of the friend she spent the night with saw the morning television news that an Amber Alert had been issued and contacted police.

Retirements create two judge vacancies

The Illinois Supreme Court will soon be appointing two judges for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Justice Rita Garman, who represents the central portion of the state on the high court, announced recently that she'll be accepting applications for the vacancies created by the upcoming retirement of DeWitt County Judge Stephen Peters and Macon County Judge John Greanias.

Lightning listed as probable firestarter

DANVILLE – Firefighters think lightning may have started a fire Saturday at the Sleep Inn in Danville.

According to a Danville Fire Department report, firefighters were called to a fire at the inn, 361 Lynch Road, at 4:43 a.m. Saturday.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Help sought with assault suspect

URBANA – Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted a 22-year-old Urbana woman Thursday afternoon on the 1800 block of South Cottage Grove, Urbana.

According to a police report, the offender was described as a 25-year-old black man. He was 6 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed about 200 pounds.

Police seek would-be robber

URBANA – Police are looking for a man who tried to steal a purse from a 70-year-old Urbana woman.

The woman told police on Thursday that the man approached her on the 1800 block of South Philo Road and tried to steal the purse off her shoulder. The would-be robber hit the woman in the nose before fleeing on food without the purse.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Rebate checks subject of scams

The public is being warned about scams involving tax-rebate checks.

Charles D. Johnson, director of the Illinois Department on Aging, issued a warning Friday to senior citizens about apparent attempts to confuse and con them on their economic stimulus checks.

Home, trailer damaged in minor fires

DANVILLE – Fire officials believe an accident involving aerosol cans prompted a small explosion and fire that damaged a house southeast of Danville on Friday.

Firefighters were called to a fire at 1602 Greenwood Cemetery Road at 9:45 a.m. When they arrived, there was a small fire in the basement of the one-story wood-frame house, said Scott Weidig, chief of the Lynch Area Fire Protection District.

Woman acquitted of charge she attacked DCFS worker

URBANA – An Urbana woman accused of battering a Department of Children and Family Services child protective investigator was acquitted of those charges Thursday.

A jury deliberated about four hours before acquitting Patrice Moore-Williams, 34, who listed an address in the 1100 block of Briarcliff Drive, of two counts of aggravated battery for a Jan. 10 attack on DCFS worker Pam Wendt.

Jury returns acquittal on drug charge

URBANA – A Champaign man accused of selling cocaine to a police informant was acquitted of that charge Thursday by a Champaign County jury.

Michael Lightfoot, 34, who listed an address in the 1400 block of West Anthony Drive, had been charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance for selling three-tenths of a gram of crack cocaine to a woman on Aug. 18, 2006.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Man dies after car swept off rural road

HUMBOLDT – A Mattoon man who thought he could make it through standing water on a rural road in northern Coles County drowned Thursday.

Coles County Coroner Mike Nichols said Ralph Idleman, 71, was driving a car near the intersection of Coles County roads 1600 N and 500 E about 3 miles east of Humboldt when his car got swept off the road.

Sex offender faces charges

GIBSON CITY – A Gibson City man convicted of sexual abuse of a 16-year-old was charged Thursday with having unlawful communication with a child in a park.

Adam M. Mathes, 20, who listed an address in the 400 block of South State Street, was charged additionally with failure to register as a sex offender within five days of establishing a new residence in Gibson City.

Two men face drug charges after Interstate 57 traffic stop

PAXTON – Two Decatur men have been charged in Ford County with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver after police found almost 5 ounces of cocaine in their vehicle during a traffic stop Wednesday night on Interstate 57.

State police arrested Larry T. Barbee, 30, and David L. Coleman, 24, both of Decatur, after finding 133 grams of cocaine and 4.7 grams of marijuana during the stop, according to a sworn statement from the arresting officer filed in court.