Courts, Police & Fire

Sunday, May 11, 2008

'They're out of sight, out of mind'

In the six years Dan Walsh has been sheriff of Champaign County, he has noticed a marked increase in the number of jail inmates who are mentally ill.

Sheriffs in other area counties have, too.

This two-part series looks at how the county jails are caring for their mentally ill inmates and how mental illness has affected at least four families.

"The average citizen doesn't have to deal with it," Walsh said. "They're out of sight, out of mind.

Half brother unaware inmate was mentally ill

CHAMPAIGN – Willie Williams last saw his younger half brother, Donnell Clemons, about a month before Clemons got into a shooting spree with Champaign police in June 2007 that ultimately landed him in a mental institution for the indefinite future.

Clemons stopped by Williams' Champaign home to say that a mutual friend had died.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Campus robbery suspect in custody

18-year-old allegedly robbed a man, then hid in building's garage after fleeing police pursuit

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign police arrested an 18-year-old man Friday night after an armed robbery and a chase that led to a search of a multistory apartment building on the University of Illinois campus.

Family hoping arrest in Mexico leads to justice

BUCKLEY – A Buckley family whose teen-age son was killed by an impaired driver almost four years ago is "cautiously optimistic" that they may finally get justice for their son and brother.

Fernando Nunez, 24, the man accused of killing Zachary Mingee, 15, of Buckley, on Sept. 11, 2004, is now in custody in Mexico City, Mexico, awaiting the possibility that he may be returned to Iroquois County for prosecution.

Man pleads innocent to September shooting

URBANA – A Champaign man pleaded innocent Friday to charges accusing him of shooting another man in September.

Brian Partlow, whose last known address was in the 100 block of East Bellefontaine Street, was arraigned and entered the plea on the Class X felony charge of aggravated battery with a firearm.

Teen plans upright life after conviction

URBANA – A Rantoul teen convicted of resisting and obstructing police in a north Champaign park more than a year ago told the judge sentencing him Friday that he has changed since then.

"My mom raised me to be respectful," said Brian Chesley, 19, whose refusal to stop to answer a police officer's questions on March 30, 2007, resulted in a misdemeanor conviction.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Police arrest armed robbery suspect after long search

Local police took a man into custody tonight after hours of carefully searching an apartment building on the University of Illinois campus.

Since late afternoon, Champaign, Urbana and University of Illinois police had been trying to clear an apartment building on the University of Illinois campus following an armed robbery.

Urbana man arrested for peeping into windows

URBANA – Police arrested a man for peeping into windows in Urbana early Thursday.

Anyone with information on recent similar incidents is urged to call Urbana police at 384-2320, according to Urbana police Sgt. Dan Morgan.

Teen gets conditional discharge over park incident

URBANA – A Rantoul teen convicted of resisting and obstructing police in Douglass Park in north Champaign more than a year ago has been sentenced to a year of conditional discharge and 100 hours of public service.

The sentence for Brian Chesley, 19, who also lives part time with a grandmother in Urbana, means he will have a misdemeanor conviction on his record but will not have to report to a probation officer for monitoring. It was the least restrictive sentence that Champaign County Judge John Kennedy could have imposed for the crimes.

Danville man receives 22-year sentence for bank robbery

URBANA – A Danville man was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison in connection with a Champaign bank robbery.

Chief Judge Michael McCuskey sentenced Larry D. Wilson, 44, whose last known address was on Griffin Street in Danville, at a hearing Thursday in U.S. Central District Court in Urbana.

Arson suspected in Hen House fire in Pesotum

PESOTUM – The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office suspects an arsonist set fire to an abandoned restaurant in Pesotum early today.

Champaign County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Coile said a passerby saw the old Hen House at 603 S. Chestnut on fire about 2 a.m.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Champaign man faces child pornography charges

URBANA – A Champaign man is accused of having and distributing child pornography.

Alan Walworth, 49, who listed an address in the 600 block of West Church Street, Champaign, was arraigned and pleaded innocent Wednesday to felony charges accusing him of dissemination and possession of child pornography between Jan. 1 and May 5 this year.

Big effort planned to enforce seat-belt law

State and local police will be cracking down on seat-belt violations as warmer weather puts more motorists on the road.

"We're trying to save lives by writing tickets," said Illinois state police spokesman Master Sgt. Brian Ley.

Suspect in death of woman from Loda pleads innocent

KENOSHA, Wis. – A Wisconsin man accused of running over a former Loda resident with a car last month after she fell off the vehicle's hood pleaded innocent to charges of homicide by negligent driving and hit-and-run involving death Wednesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court.

A jury trial for Thomas J. Sillcocks, 37, of Kenosha, Wis., could be scheduled during a final pretrial hearing to be held at 9 a.m. May 22 in Judge S. Michael Wilk's courtroom, said Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Mark Dooley.

Rantoul man awaiting sentencing arrested again

RANTOUL – A Rantoul man already facing sentencing on burglary and drug charges is now accused of breaking into five Rantoul businesses over the weekend.

Kyle Maxey, 17, who listed an address in the 1000 block of St. Andrew Circle, Rantoul, is due to return to court July 1 for a pretrial hearing on five counts of burglary. Maxey was arraigned and pleaded innocent Monday to the new charges, all accusing him of burglaries to Rantoul businesses. His bond was set at $15,000.

Examination room chair fire extinguished by security guard

CHAMPAIGN – An electrical short in an exam room chair caused a small fire at Christie Clinic, 101 W. University Ave., C, early this morning.

Champaign fire department spokeswoman Dena Schumacher said firefighters were sent to the clinic at 5:33 a.m. today. Although the dispatch call went out as a working fire, investigation showed the fire was limited to the examination chair and it had already been put out by a Christie security guard with an extinguisher by the time firefighters arrived, she said.

Area teenager accused in burglaries

ST. JOSEPH – A former rural St. Joseph teen, now living in Mahomet, is accused of separate burglaries to St. Joseph-Ogden High School and a car in St. Joseph.

Kody Alagna, 17, who lists a current address on South Walnut, Mahomet, was arraigned and pleaded innocent Wednesday to two separate burglary cases – one involving theft of property from the high school and the other involving a truck.

Order of protection sought against Arnette children's aunt

URBANA – As Champaign County Judge Tom Difanis was ruling on whether to move the murder trial of Robert Arnette, the lawyer representing the seven surviving children of Naomi Arnette was in another courtroom down the hall trying to protect their interests.

John DeLaMar, the guardian ad litem for the children, who now range in age from 8 to 18, asked Judge Holly Clemons to issue an order of protection on behalf of the children against Angela Roy, the sister of Robert Arnette.

Car stolen from woman in Urbana

URBANA – Police are looking for a car reported stolen in Urbana.

A 28-year-old Newman woman told police that her green 1998 Pontiac Sunfire was stolen from a former gas station lot in the 1000 block of North Cunningham Avenue about 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to an Urbana police report. The car had a dent in the driver's door with yellow paint transfer, police said.

Judge convicts Clark on weapons charge

DANVILLE – Former NBA player Keon Clark faces a year in jail after his conviction on a misdemeanor weapons charge stemming from a March 2006 incident at his Danville home.

"The evidence in this case shows beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant possessed a firearm without having a valid firearm owner's idenfication card," Vermilion County Circuit Judge Michael Clary wrote in his ruling, issued Friday.

Trash pile catches fire; no one injured

DANVILLE – Hot embers from construction work involving steel cutting accidentally ignited a large trash fire south of Danville on Monday night, a fire official said.

Scott Weidig, chief of the Lynch Area Fire Protection District, said no one was injured and no property was damaged.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Passenger questioned over toy pistol

SAVOY – A gun-shaped video-game controller in a carry-on bag caused a delay in departure for a student from Willard Airport in Savoy on Monday.

University of Illinois police Lt. Roy Acree said a plastic toy pistol that looked like a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol was confiscated from the student's luggage after a baggage screener for the Transportation Security Administration alerted police to the object in the carry-on luggage at 7:45 a.m. Monday.

1899 Urbana home burns in early morning fire

URBANA – Brian Adams smelled smoke but didn't immediately realize it was coming from his house in Urbana.

"I got up this morning and I could smell smoke," Adams said. "The windows were open and I thought maybe something was burning outside the house. I came down the stairs and it was very thick smoke, so I called the fire department immediately."

Pedestrian died from spinal, cerebral injuries in accident

URBANA – Preliminary autopsy results showed a pedestrian who was hit by a pickup truck in Urbana died of multiple traumatic injuries.

Juwayne L. Edwards Jr., 35, whose last known address was on Sherwood Court in Champaign, was pronounced dead at 3:09 a.m. Sunday. Preliminary results from an autopsy Monday in Bloomington showed Mr. Edwards died due to head and spine injuries from the accident, according to Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup.

Tolono man sentenced to 20 years for rape, burglary

URBANA – A Tolono man with a history of violent convictions was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for rape and burglary.

Howard "Wes" Wilson, 32, who last lived in the 300 block of North Vorcey Street, pleaded guilty in two separate cases to criminal sexual assault and burglary as his trial on the rape charge was set to begin before a jury.

Two men charged in Ford County drug investigation

Two men are due in Ford County Circuit Court later this month on cocaine charges.

David Morales, 34, who listed an address in Roselle, and Salvador R. Mejia, 20, who listed an address in Gilberts, were each charged with two felonies – unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony; and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, as well as one misdemeanor, unlawful possession of cannabis, according to charges filed in Ford County Circuit Court.

Urbana Middle School students stay late after gas leak

URBANA – Students at Urbana Middle School were kept inside the school for several minutes past dismissal time this afternoon, after a construction crew hit a gas line on Michigan Avenue on the south side of the school.

Urbana firefighters asked the students to remain inside the school while they monitored the area and the building for natural gas, said Division Chief Tony Foster. Then students were dismissed through the north entrance to the building.

Judge denies Arnette's request for change of venue

URBANA – The murder trial of a Champaign man accused of killing his estranged wife will remain in Champaign County.

Judge Tom Difanis this morning denied Robert Arnette's request to have his trial, alleging he killed Naomi Arnette and concealed her death for months, heard in another county.

Police warn about congestion as students depart

Campus traffic may be a bit more congested than usual for the next few days as University of Illinois students exit en masse.

Most on-campus students will move out of UI residence halls between Thursday and Saturday, so campus police advise local motorists to find alternate routes if possible.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Man facing burglary, drug charges

URBANA – A Champaign man is due back in Champaign County Circuit Court next month after being charged Monday with residential burglary and having cannabis intended for sale.

Zachary Lewis, 18, who listed an address in the 2000 block of Moreland Boulevard, was arrested about 4 a.m. Sunday outside another residence in the same block where he lived.

Pedestrian died from cerebral, spinal injuries

URBANA – Preliminary autopsy results showed a pedestrian who was hit by a pickup truck in Urbana died of multiple traumatic injuries.

Juwayne L. Edwards Jr., 35, whose last known address was on Sherwood Court in Champaign, was pronounced dead at 3:09 a.m. Sunday. Preliminary results from an autopsy Monday in Bloomington showed Mr. Edwards died due to head and spine injuries from the accident, according to Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Man in road dies after being hit by pickup truck

URBANA – Urbana police investigators are trying to figure out why a Chicago area man who lived off and on in Champaign and Urbana was walking in the middle of a major highway early Sunday morning.

Juwayne L. Edwards Jr., 35, died from injuries he received after being struck by a pickup truck on Illinois 130 about 2:45 a.m. Sunday.

Appellate court rejects Chief suits

SPRINGFIELD – A state appellate court has turned down the appeals of two University of Illinois students who portrayed Chief Illiniwek and a Champaign attorney who supports the Chief.

Students Dan Maloney and Logan Ponce and attorney John Gadau had filed separate suits against the University of Illinois Board of Trustees in connection with the board's decision to retire the Chief and his performances at UI football, basketball and volleyball games.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Benchmark Computers reports theft of nine laptops

URBANA – Nine laptop computers were stolen from an Urbana computer business, according to an Urbana police report.

The report said someone entered Benchmark Computers, 1403 E. Washington St., about 3 p.m. April 25 and took the laptops.

Several tools taken from business' truck

CHAMPAIGN – Power tools, hand tools and a five-drawer tool box were among items taken in a recent vehicle break-in, a Champaign police report stated.

According to the report, someone broke a window of a truck belonging to Clark Plumbing & Heating, 1501 N. Highland Ave.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Area firefighters learn to handle rail emergencies

VILLA GROVE – Chuck Black listened intently as an instructor showed him how to open a valve at the top of a chemical-filled railroad car.

"I'm learning a lot about how to stop leaks and how to be aware of my surroundings," he said. "It's important to know the right steps to take in case of a railroad emergency."

Home invasion leaves 1 injured in St. Joseph

ST. JOSEPH – Champaign County sheriff's deputies are investigating a home invasion Thursday in St. Joseph that left one person injured.

A release from Champaign County Sheriff Dan Walsh said about 9 p.m., four men, one or more of whom was armed, entered a home on Locust Street.

Teens charged with taking TV equipment

URBANA – Two teens accused of taking a Channel 3 camera and microphone worth $20,000 are due back in court June 24.

Dakota Miller, 19, who listed an address in the 900 block of North Broadway Avenue, Urbana, and Christopher Waldron, 17, of Skokie, were charged Thursday in Champaign County Circuit Court with felony theft.

Champaign man charged with cocaine possession

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign man with a history of drug-related convictions was charged with another drug offense on Friday.

Assistant Champaign County State's Attorney Dan Clifton said Nathan Porter, 49, who listed an address at 911 Kenwood Road, C, across the street from Centennial High School and Jefferson Middle School, was charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance for having more than 29 grams, about an ounce, of cocaine in his home.

Murdock man charged with firearms possession

MURDOCK – A Murdock man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he illegally possessed firearms.

Police found two pistols and two shotguns belonging to Luther W. Clark III, 49, even though he doesn't have a firearm owner's identification card.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Officials take care of vintage grenades

DANVILLE – University of Illinois and Champaign police specially trained to handle explosives took care of two vintage hand grenades Thursday.

UI Police Lt. Skip Frost said the bomb squad got a call from the Vermilion County War Museum, 307 N. Vermilion St., Danville, about 9:30 a.m.

Police make contact with missing family

URBANA – Urbana police have now heard from members of an Urbana family believed to have been missing since early April and have concluded they are fine.

Sgt. Dan Morgan said in a release that Catoya Williams, her three children, ages 9, 6 and 4, and her partner, Nathaniel Brooks, were located Thursday.

Lincoln Building fire causes little damage

CHAMPAIGN – A downtown fire at the Lincoln Building caused some lunchtime excitement today but little to no damage to the building.

Champaign Fire Department Capt. Lew Smith said the fire broke out when construction work on the sixth floor ignited some fabric.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Man faces charges in fatality of former PBL student

KENOSHA, Wis. – A Wisconsin man charged with homicide by negligent driving for the death of a 2006 Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School graduate waived a preliminary hearing in Kenosha County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

"It means my client made the decision not to require the state to put evidence on to prove probable cause," said Kenosha attorney Jason Rossell, who has been appointed by the court to defend Thomas J. Sillcocks, 37, of Kenosha. "Because of the waiver, the court found probable cause existed and said the state may go forward to trial if necessary."

Jury convicts Champaign man in heroin case

URBANA – A Champaign man who possessed heroin for sale faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced in June.

A Champaign County jury Wednesday convicted Mekiel Kelley, 27, of the 3400 block of Stoneway Court, of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Boy in fair condition after losing control of vehicle

FAIRMOUNT – A young Fairmount resident was listed in fair condition Wednesday afternoon following an accident Tuesday evening that could prompt the village to change its ordinances.

Mayor David Ferber said the boy, age 9 or 10, was riding a motorized vehicle down State Street at around 6 p.m. Tuesday and attempted to turn around.

Georgetown mayor admits disorderly conduct

DANVILLE – Georgetown Mayor Darrell Acord has been sentenced to court supervision and public-service work for a disorderly conduct conviction.

On Tuesday in Vermilion County Circuit Court, Acord pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Ex-teacher apologizes to victims, families

BLOOMINGTON – Jon White said he has already been exposed to "daily, hourly verbal abuse" from other prison inmates at Joliet who recognize him as the teacher who sexually exploited some of his own first- and second-grade students.

Fearful, he said he stays in his cell rather than venture into the prison yard for fresh air. The 27-year-old former Urbana and Normal grade school teacher told a McLean County judge Tuesday he knows that kind of harassment goes with the territory for someone convicted of the crimes he is – aggravated criminal sexual abuse to eight young girls in Champaign County and two in McLean County.

Blazes strike Danville apartment residences a few hours apart

DANVILLE – Two fires Tuesday caused about $26,000 in damages.

Danville firefighters were called to 39 S. Griffin St. at 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

White sentenced to additional 12 years for sex abuse

BLOOMINGTON – A McLean County judge this morning added another 12 years to the 48 that former grade school teacher Jon White has already received for bizarre games he played with students for his own sexual gratification.

White, 27, who most recently lived in Villa Grove with his parents, pleaded guilty in McLean County in February to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for acts that happened with two girls, then 6 and 7, while he was a teacher at Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal between Oct. 1, 2004, and April 30, 2005.

Public now able to provide tips through text messages

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign County Crimestoppers is already getting tips through the Internet, but tip providers can now help fight crime with a new weapon.

Champaign police Deputy Chief Troy Daniels said citizens can now use their cell phones to provide tips with text messages – with absolute assurance that they will remain anonymous.

Weekend gun theft prompts extra security at schools

ST. JOSEPH – Schools in St. Joseph were being locked down and monitored again today following the theft of a gun over the weekend.

Champaign County Sheriff Dan Walsh said extra security precautions were taken at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, St. Joseph Middle School and the grade schools on Monday due to a gun being reported stolen on East Lincoln Street in St. Joseph over the weekend.

Catlin police chief turning in his badge after 35 years

CATLIN – Starting Thursday, Fred Reddy will have to find a new way to spend his days.

After 35 years with the Catlin Police Department, and more than 30 years as chief, Reddy, 62, is retiring as of Wednesday.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Danville's dogs to get their day

DANVILLE – Every dog may have his day, but how about a day in the park?

Next month, a group of volunteers and owners of canine-related businesses are hosting "Dog Day in the Park" at Ellsworth Park in Danville as a fundraising event for the Danville Police Department's K-9 unit.

Online form allows residents quicker method to give feedback

DANVILLE – Residents now have a new way to communicate with the city's police and fire departments.

The Danville Police Department launched a new online feedback form last week.

Police investigating death of area woman

URBANA – Police in Urbana are continuing the investigation into the death of a Champaign woman, who apparently died after falling off the side of a pickup truck last week.

Lynda Day, 47, died at Carle Foundation Hospital on Thursday

Sunday, April 27, 2008

'Unofficial' crackdown adds to hefty caseload

More than 70 cases involving local liquor license violations in Champaign County, including alleged underage drinking, will be heard when the Illinois Liquor Control Commission convenes this week.

State liquor officials in March issued citations on a variety of violations by more than 30 liquor license holders in Champaign County, spokeswoman Katherine Ridgeway said. Normally, the commission makes about 100 inspections a year in Champaign County, she said.

Extra-alarm fire hurts only property

URBANA – Fire lit up the night above Woodstone Apartments on Saturday, where smoke pouring from a roof brought a small fleet of fire trucks and emergency personnel to the 900 block of South Lierman Avenue in Urbana.

The fire "looks like it started up on the roof," said Fire Chief Mike Dilley at about 9:15 p.m., just as the fire was put out. He said no one was injured.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Troop comes to the rescue with oxygen mask for pets

CHAMPAIGN – Dogs, cats, snakes. Even iguanas.

Champaign Fire Department Squad 171 will now be equipped to rescue family pets.

Incident near Rossville-Alvin school still under investigation

ROSSVILLE – Police are continuing to investigate an incident Thursday in which a man driving a van offered candy to a seventh-grade girl waiting to cross the street in front of Rossville-Alvin Grade School.

Rossville Police Chief Bill Shannon said the department has gotten a couple leads, followed up on them and is still investigating.

Man arraigned on unlawful possession count

URBANA – A Champaign man found to be in possession of crack cocaine is scheduled to be back in court July 8.

Everett Townsend, 29, of the 1200 block of Carver Drive, was arraigned on a charge of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Local man charged with home invasion

URBANA – An Urbana man has been charged with home invasion and other crimes for forcing his way into the home of a former girlfriend earlier this week.

Charles Adams, 36, of the 500 block of East Illinois Street, was charged with home invasion, criminal trespass to residence and criminal damage to property in connection with events that occurred April 21 on Gurth Drive in Urbana.

Suspect charged in cab holdups

URBANA – A Champaign man who admitted holding up two cab drivers this week to get money to buy cocaine is due back in court in July.

Champaign County Assistant State's Attorney Steve Ziegler said Charles McKinney, 34, who listed an address in the 900 block of West Beardsley Avenue, Champaign, was charged with two counts of armed robbery with a knife. The first alleges he robbed an Orange Taxi driver about 1 a.m. Wednesday near Washington and Randolph streets in Champaign. The second accuses him of robbing a Yellow Checker cab driver about 1 a.m. Friday on State Street in Champaign.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Judge declares mistrial in man's weapon case

URBANA – A Champaign County jury Thursday couldn't decide if a convicted felon possessed a gun that was found in a house where he was staying.

After deliberating about five hours over whether Roland McFarland was an armed habitual criminal, the four men and eight women told Judge Tom Difanis they were deadlocked, and he declared a mistrial. Difanis continued the case until May 27.

Area police investigating restaurant, taxi robberies

One man was arrested for trying to steal money from a restaurant, and police are investigating a robbery of a taxi driver in Champaign.

Gary Fonville, 35, who listed an address in the 3000 block of West Daniel Street, Champaign, was arraigned Wednesday on a Class 2 felony charge of burglary. His bond was set at $2,000. He is due to return to court July 8.

Man faces vehicular hijacking charges

URBANA – A St. Louis man is accused of hijacking a car in Champaign in December.

Vernon Jones, 34, was arraigned Thursday on Class X felony charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking and armed robbery. Both charges accuse him of stealing a Champaign man's car at gunpoint on Dec. 8, 2007.

Crash between car, motorcycles claims second man

URBANA – A second man has died from injuries he sustained in a collision between a car and two motorcyclists that occurred Wednesday afternoon near Ogden.

Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said Delt Baines, 66, of 1110 Nofftz Drive, Champaign, died at Carle Foundation Hospital at 8:56 a.m. Thursday.

Burned Danville buildings inspected

DANVILLE – A month after fire tore through a downtown building, local officials and the building's owner await an engineer's evaluation on whether part of the structure can be saved.

Rachael Dietkus, director of Downtown Danville Inc., said the organization would like the building at 105-109 N. Vermilion St. rebuilt and thriving again with retail businesses as it was prior to the March 26 blaze that wiped out two businesses – Danville Book World and Briars and Brambles.

Convicted rapist back in custody

SPRINGFIELD – A little more than 24 hours after Vincent Lipscomb walked out of the Champaign County Courthouse on Wednesday thinking he was a free man, he was back in the custody of the state of Illinois.

On Thursday afternoon, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered he should continue to be held while the state appeals Champaign County Judge Harry Clem's dismissal of his sexually violent persons petition.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

High court orders Lipscomb back into custody

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court this afternoon ordered that a Champaign man released from custody Wednesday on a sexually violent persons petition be brought back in while the state appeals the dismissal of that case.

Champaign County Judge Harry Clem Wednesday dismissed the civil petition against Vincent Lipscomb, 38, because a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict earlier this month on whether Lipscomb suffered from a mental illness that made it likely he would rape again.

Clinton man killed in head-on collision

OGDEN – A Clinton man was killed and two others injured in a head-on crash Wednesday near Ogden involving a car and two motorcycles.

Ronald W. Huffman, 66, of Clinton was pronounced dead Wednesday at the scene of the accident west of Illinois 49 on U.S. 150, according to Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup.

Man charged in death of ex-Loda woman

KENOSHA, Wis. – A Wisconsin man faces criminal charges of homicide by negligent driving for the death of a 2006 Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School graduate.

Thomas J. Sillcocks, 37, of Kenosha, Wis., was charged Tuesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with two felonies – homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and hit-and-run involving death – following an accident last week that caused the death of Ashley C. Marcotte, 20, a former Loda resident who was living in Kenosha.

Judge releases convicted rapist after dismissing petition

URBANA – Despite efforts by the Illinois attorney general's office to keep him locked up pending an appeal, a Champaign County judge Wednesday ordered convicted rapist Vincent Lipscomb freed.

Lipscomb, 38, has been locked up in a Department of Human Services facility for sexually violent and dangerous persons for four years as he waited for a jury trial on the question of whether he suffers from a mental disorder that makes him likely to reoffend.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Lipscomb released from jail after judge denies state petition

URBANA – After 20 years in custody, Vincent Lipscomb of Champaign walked out of the Champaign County Courthouse shortly after 3 p.m. today without chains or guards at his side.

Champaign County Judge Harry Clem dismissed the state's petition to have the 38-year-old declared a sexually violent person in the wake of a jury's inability earlier this month to reach a unanimous verdict on that question.

Ex-youth football president agrees to pay back $3,205

DANVILLE – The former president of the Georgetown-Ridge Farm Youth Football Organization has about two months to pay back the more than $3,000 he stole from the group.

Terry O'Toole, 40, of Georgetown, pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor theft under $300.

Man pleads guilty to home invasion

URBANA – A Rantoul man who admitted attacking his neighbor in her home in December faces six to 30 years in prison when sentenced in June in Champaign County Circuit Court.

A jury had been selected Monday to hear the home invasion trial of Timothy Wilbourn, 42, of the Fountain Valley Mobile Home Park. But as the trial was about to begin before Judge Tom Difanis on Tuesday morning, Wilbourn decided to plead guilty.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Champaign man charged with robbery of neighbor

URBANA – A Champaign man is due back in court in July after being charged Monday in Champaign County Circuit Court with a weekend armed robbery.

Richard Barber, 43, who listed an address in the 500 block of West White Street, was charged with armed robbery for threatening a neighbor with a knife and taking items that the neighbor dropped while fleeing from Barber on Saturday.

Woman receives month in prison, home detention

URBANA – Deanna Lustfeldt, wife of Iroquois County Circuit Judge Gordon Lustfeldt, was sentenced Monday to one month in prison and nine months of home confinement for embezzling money at the Watseka bank where she formerly worked.

U.S. Central District of Illinois Chief Judge Michael McCuskey said a sentence of probation would be inappropriate.

More car burglaries of GPS systems reported

Police are continuing to get reports of vehicle burglaries involving global positioning systems.

In Urbana, a resident of the 1000 block of West Stoughton Street reported that someone broke a car window and stole a GPS unit between 12:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a police report.

Two plead guilty to drug conspiracy charges

URBANA – Two more people pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges in connection with a ring that was responsible for selling crack cocaine in Champaign-Urbana.

Pleading guilty Monday and admitting their roles were Sasha Daley, 23, of Chicago and Kristopher Davis, 24, of South Holland, formerly of Urbana. Both pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine.

Robbery, attempted holdup reported

Champaign police are investigating a reported robbery, and Urbana police are checking into an apparent attempted robbery.

About 6 p.m. Friday, a 24-year-old Fairmount man was robbed of his wallet in the drive-through lane at the McDonald's Restaurant, 1812 N. Neil St., C., according to a Champaign police report.

Two hospitalized following two-car accident in Arthur

Two Arthur residents were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash in Arthur on Monday morning.

According to an Illinois State Police report, Howard J. Helmuth, 39, who listed an address in Arthur, was driving a motorcycle west on Illinois 133 at a high rate of speed and continued to accelerate when he struck a 2003 Ford Taurus driven by Brenda Coleman, 66, of Arthur. Coleman was driving south on Palmer Street and was attempting to make a left turn onto Illinois 133 when she was struck by the motorcycle.

Convicted sex offender faces residency, registration charges

PAXTON – A man convicted of molesting an 8-year-old was arrested by Paxton police last week after he was discovered to be living across the street from a park in Paxton and later at a residence directly across from a day care center, authorities said Monday.

David O. Kentala, 58, who lists an address in rural Rantoul, was charged Thursday with two Class 3 felonies – for failing to register as a sex offender in Ford County within 10 days of moving there and for failure to comply with a state law that restricts sex offenders from residing within 500 feet of a school, park or playground.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Hey, Leadfoot! Smile for the camera!

PESOTUM – In its first day on the job on Interstate 57, a state police speed-enforcement van spotted 14 drivers zooming through a construction zone near Thomasboro.

The van is one of four the state owns that takes pictures of violators as they pass. That information is then sent to a vendor who processes the pictures, picks out the ones where drivers are clearly identifiable, and sends them back to state police.

City will try to restore damaged clock

CHAMPAIGN – A city planner said today that the city will try to restore a historic downtown Champaign street clock that was knocked down by a car over the weekend.

The clock, a familiar feature downtown for more than 90 years, was knocked down as a car crashed into it at Neil and Main streets about 10 p.m. Saturday.

Video games taken in burglaries

URBANA – Police are investigating two burglaries in Urbana where video game equipment was stolen.

Three men entered a home in the 1500 block of South Philo Road about 5 p.m. Friday and stole a PlayStation game system, a Wii game, 10 pairs of tennis shoes and 10 ball caps, according to one Urbana police report.

Danville fire's cause, property's owner unknown

DANVILLE – Local and state fire officials said the cause of a fire that destroyed the old Interstate Heat Treating building on Friday night is undetermined, as is the building's owner.

"We still haven't found the cause yet, and we're still trying to find the owner," said Gary Wright, the Westville Fire Protection District chief.

Legislation would cut some paperwork for subpoenas

SPRINGFIELD – Lining up witnesses for a trial could get one step simpler for attorneys if proposed state legislation becomes law.

When sending subpoenas, lawyers would be able to skip the step requiring paperwork to be authorized by the circuit clerk's office before the subpoena is served.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

St. Louis man killed in head-on crash

ARCOLA – A St. Louis man was killed early Saturday morning in a two-vehicle accident in Douglas County.

State police at Pesotum said Evan Dalgaard, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on U.S. 45 just north of Douglas County Road 400 N.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Defense pleading for probation in embezzling case

URBANA – A sentencing hearing for a judge's wife who admitted embezzling money from a Watseka bank where she worked will include arguments on whether or not her mental illness and civic involvement should be factors to make her eligible for probation.

Deanna Lustfeldt, the wife of Iroquois County Circuit Judge Gordon Lustfeldt, is due to be sentenced Monday by U.S. District Chief Judge Michael McCuskey. She pleaded guilty Sept. 4 to embezzlement by a bank officer and admitted taking $18,000 from the Watseka branch of the First National Bank of Gilman.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Three accused of marijuana trafficking

SAVOY – Three people are accused of having about 38 pounds of marijuana seized in a raid in Savoy on Wednesday.

Carlos C. Campbell, 26, and Jheryl D. Catchings, who both listed the same address on Magnolia Court, Savoy, along with Michelle A. Wu, 35, who listed a Riverside, Calif., address were charged Thursday with marijuana trafficking. Campbell also was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Bonds were set at $50,000 for Campbell and Catchings and $15,000 for Wu.

Text messages lead to child molesting charges

CHAMPAIGN – Another case of alleged child molesting was filed Thursday as the result of finding text messages on a teenager's phone, according to a Champaign County prosecutor.

Joseph Hall, 50, who listed an address in the 300 block of East Clark Street in Champaign, was arraigned on Class X charges of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, both allegedly involving a 13-year-old girl.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

White women lead Champaign County jury makeup

URBANA – For the third year in a row, more white women than any other demographic group sat in judgment of defendants in Champaign County court cases.

The over-representation of white women and the non-existence of Asian males in the jury pool were among the findings of the fourth annual report of the Champaign County Courtwatching Project.

Prairie school evacuated due to microwave fire

URBANA – Prairie Elementary School was evacuated for a short time this morning after a microwave caught fire in the teachers' lounge there.

Tony Foster, division chief for the Urbana fire department, said the microwave was faulty. The fire department removed it and cleared the room of smoke.

Woman gets prison term for doctor office theft

DANVILLE – A Fithian woman was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday for stealing more than $100,000 from a Danville doctor's office.

Sandra D. Schultz, 41, of the 400 block of West Franklin Street in Fithian, was arrested Aug. 15, 2006, on charges of forgery and theft over $100,000. The Vermilion County state's attorney's office formally charged her with one count of theft over $100,000, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in prison.

Fithian woman given four years for theft more than $100,000

DANVILLE – A Fithian woman was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday for stealing more than $100,000 from a Danville doctor's office.

Sandra D. Schultz, 41, of the 400 block of West Franklin Street in Fithian, was arrested Aug. 15, 2006, on charges of forgery and theft over $100,000. The Vermilion County state's attorney's office formally charged her with one count of theft over $100,000, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in prison.

Man accused in abduction attempt

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign man is accused of trying to abduct a teenage Champaign girl Tuesday.

Narciso Cruz-Pacheta, 20, who listed an address in the 1500 block of Kiler Drive, was arraigned Wednesday on a Class 3 felony charge of child abduction for attempting to lure a 15-year-old girl into a van.

String of car burglaries reported

CHAMPAIGN – Police in Champaign are investigating a rash of car burglaries – mostly in the campus area – involving stolen global positioning systems.

Crime Analyst Gary Spear said there have been burglaries to about 30 cars in the past month. Some involve several cars in the same parking lot or parking garage, he said.

Teens arrested in library attack

CHAMPAIGN – Two Champaign teenagers were arrested for attacking a security guard at the Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., C.

According to a Champaign police report, two female teenagers hit the library security guard several times after the guard was asked to remove one of them from the library about 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Store's fire wall served its purpose

VILLA GROVE – The owner of Villa Grove's only major grocery store credits a fire wall and quick response by volunteer firefighters for saving the building following a fire early Wednesday morning.

Gary Woods was working at his other grocery store in St. Joseph when he received a telephone call telling him that the Villa Grove Foods store at 10 E. Harrison Ave. was on fire.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Two men accused of robbing UI student

URBANA – Police credit Urbana citizens for helping solve a street robbery Tuesday night.

Lt. Bryant Seraphin said a 19-year-old female University of Illinois student was walking east in the 400 block of West Springfield in Urbana about 6:45 p.m. when she was tackled, dragged and robbed of her purse.

Police seek details on family reported missing out West

URBANA – Police are seeking help in finding an Urbana family who got on a bus to California but have not been heard from in 12 days.

No foul play is suspected, but police are urging anyone with information to call Urbana police at 384-2320 or Champaign County Crimestoppers at 384-3733.

Villa Grove IGA damaged in morning fire

VILLA GROVE – Villa Grove will be without its only major grocery store for at least a month due to a fire there early today.

Assistant Villa Grove Fire Chief Mike Broeker said an employee of the Villa Grove IGA on the northwest corner of Illinois 130 and Harrison Street put her breakfast in the microwave oven about 5:15 a.m.

Champaign man faces hate-crime charge in assault

CHAMPAIGN – Steven Velasquez, 20, of Urbana, said he was walking with friends near the University of Illinois campus over the weekend when they were accosted by a man who yelled slurs about their sexual orientation and pushed him.

"He said, 'Get out of here,'" and used an epithet, Velasquez said. He said the man also yelled, "You don't belong here," and other slurs.

School worker faces sex abuse charges

URBANA – A female Ludlow School cafeteria worker is accused of sex abuse of a male teen-ager and of sending him text messages and lewd photos.

Deborah Kissell, 32, of Ludlow was arraigned and pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of indecent solicitation of a child under 17 years old, a Class 3 felony, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Ludlow school worker accused of sex abuse

URBANA – A female Ludlow Middle School cafeteria worker is accused of sex abuse of a male teenager and of sending him text messages and lewd photos.

Deborah Kissell, 32, of Ludlow was arraigned and pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of indecent solicitation of a child under 17 years old, a Class 3 felony and criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony.

Man pleads guilty to drug conspiracy charge

URBANA – A 26-year-old former Champaign man faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty Monday to a federal drug conspiracy charge.

Olaitan Fowowe, who had lived in Champaign while attending the University of Illinois in 1999, admitted he was the head of the conspiracy from early 2003 to late 2007. Fowowe, who goes by the street name "Melvin," also admitted he ran the drug conspiracy while he was on work release on a previous state charge of selling drugs.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Interpreter helps keep area court cases on track

TUSCOLA – To a Spanish-speaking man or woman accused of a crime, Matt Peek could be the most important person in the courtroom.

Peek, a Champaign resident, can be key to making sure the accused receives a fair trial in court rooms in Champaign, Vermilion, Piatt and Douglas counties. He's a court interpreter and has recently been assisting with the hearings and trials of the dozen Arcola residents arrested in an alleged Arcola-based drug ring last summer.

Former firefighters visit site that housed all-black fire house

DANVILLE – Morris Hunter and Thomas Buford both began as "plug men" at the old fire station on Walnut Street, when there were separate stations for black and white firefighters.

The two collectively spent more than 50 years at the historic fire house, which was designated as the city's all-black station in the late 1800s.

Jury cannot agree on man's status as sexually violent

URBANA – A hearing is scheduled for later this month to see if the state will try again to have a former Champaign man declared sexually violent. A Champaign County jury Friday could not reach a verdict in the case of Vincent Lipscomb.

Jurors deliberated about six hours Friday before telling Judge Harry Clem that they could not agree on whether Lipscomb, now 38, poses a substantial risk to reoffend.

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Saturday, April 12, 2008

Rantoul man gets 75 years for '07 murder

URBANA – A young Rantoul man was sentenced Friday in Champaign County Circuit Court to 75 years in prison for the murder of another young Rantoul man.

Judge Thomas Difanis sentenced Joanis Bradley, 22, to 50 years for the fatal shooting of Christopher Napier. The judge also sentenced Bradley to an additional 25 years for using a gun in the murder.

Autopsy: Man died of head injuries

CHAMPAIGN – Preliminary autopsy results showed traumatic head injuries caused the death of a Champaign man involved in a crash Thursday night in Champaign.

Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said that appears to be the cause of death for William A. Brown, 28, who was pronounced dead at 11:09 p.m. Thursday at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. The coroner said Mr. Brown had a state identification card that listed an address in Springfield, but he had been living in Champaign with family members.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Judge deciding Clark's fate on weapon charge

DANVILLE – Former NBA player Keon Clark on Thursday acknowledged he didn't have a firearm owner's identification card on a night two years ago when police found a gun in his house.

But he claimed that the weapon belonged to a woman with whom he had had a relationship, and that she had brought it over, waved it around and threatened to shoot someone that night.

Champaign County running out of room for evidence

URBANA – A bloodied car door leans against a wall in a locked room in the basement of the county courthouse.

A box nearby reads "CAUTION: Blood products not properly stored."

UI police looking for vandal who shot food at building

URBANA – Campus police are investigating vandalism apparently done by someone shooting food at a building.

University of Illinois police were called to the Astronomy Building, 1002 W. Green St., U, at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a report that someone broke a fanlight window above the entrance, according to a police report. Damage was estimated at $1,000, the report said.

Judge declares man sexually dangerous

URBANA – A man with multiple convictions for sexually molesting children has been declared sexually dangerous by a Champaign County judge.

The finding by Judge Tom Difanis means that Victor Babcock, 39, will be locked up indefinitely in a state prison until he no longer suffers from the mental disorders that cause him to victimize children.

Man dies following wreck on White Street

CHAMPAIGN – A central Illinois man was killed, two women were injured and police were trying to locate a fourth person after a crash in the 800 block of West White Street in Champaign on Thursday.

Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said William A. Brown, 28, was pronounced dead at 11:09 p.m. Thursday at Carle Foundation Hospital. The coroner, who said Mr. Brown died from injuries received in the crash, said he believed Mr. Brown was from Champaign, but police said based on information received so far, they think he was from Springfield.

Ex-NBA athlete's trial ends; verdict pending

DANVILLE – Former NBA player Keon Clark on Thursday acknowledged he didn't have a firearm owner's identification card on a night two years ago when police found a gun in his house.

But he claimed the weapon belonged to a woman with whom he had had a relationship, and that she had brought it over, waved it around and threatened to shoot someone that night.