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Randolph County court updates

Jacob I. Woolard

On May 11, 19-year-old Jacob I. Woolard, of Carbondale, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (Class 4 felony) before Circuit Court Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, the defendant was sentenced to two years of probation (first offender status), with conditions to seek alcohol/substance abuse treatment as directed by the probation department.

During the plea, the defendant admitted to possessing less than 15 grams of hydrocodone located during a traffic stop in Steeleville on January 21.

"Mr. Woolard is a young man with no criminal history," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Hopefully he will stay out of trouble, do the treatment as required and he will walk away without a felony conviction.

"If not, we will revoke the probation and try a different penalty, which could include up to three years in corrections."

The Steeleville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

David L. Shemonia

On May 11, 50-year-old David L. Shemonia, 50 of Baldwin, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (Class 3 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, the defendant was sentenced to two years of probation (first offender status), with conditions to seek alcohol/substance abuse treatment as directed by the probation department.

During the plea, Shemonia admitted to possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine located during a traffic stop by a Randolph County Sheriff's deputy on December 8, 2016 in rural Baldwin.

"Mr. Shemonia had no prior felony history before this offense and first offender status appeared the appropriate resolution to try to help Mr. Shemonia," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker.

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation in this matter.

Jordan D. Vuichard

On May 12, 30-year-old Jordan D. Vuichard, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to the offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (Class 4 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Vuichard was sentenced to two years of probation with conditions to seek alcohol/substance abuse counseling, restitution to the Village of Coulterville's insurance carrier for damage to a squad car caused in the pursuit, and five weekends in the Randolph County Jail.

A felony charge of criminal damage to property (Class 3 felony) was dismissed to facilitate the plea.

During the plea, Vuichard admitted to increasing the speed of the motor vehicle he was driving at least 21 miles per hour above the speed limit after having been given directions to pull his vehicle over by a police officer on September 11, 2016 in Coulterville.

"Mr. Vuichard will not be able to remove this felony from his record and will also have his driver's license revoked as a result of this incident, which is the reason I wanted to obtain the conviction on the fleeing charge, as opposed to the more serious charge of criminal damage," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Hopefully some time in jail will give Mr. Vuichard some time to reflect on a poor and dangerous decision to try to run from a police officer."

The Coulterville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Lawrence P. Jouglard

On May 15, 34-year-old Lawrence P. Jouglard, of East St. Louis, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

No agreement was reached as to the sentence and this matter has been re-set for a sentencing hearing on June 26 at 1 p.m.

During the plea, Jouglard admitted to possessing a vehicle he knew was stolen in Sparta on March 10.

"Mr. Jouglard has a fairly extensive criminal history and there is no question I will be seeking a prison sentence at the upcoming hearing," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker.

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Ryan L. Garrison

On May 25, 40-year-old Ryan L. Garrison, of Benton, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of controlled substance (Class 4 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Garrison was sentenced to two years of probation, with conditions to seek alcohol and substance abuse counseling.

During the plea, Garrison admitted to possessing less than 15 gram of alprazolam located during an interaction with the Steeleville Police Department on March 29.

"Mr. Garrison had a prior felony in 2007; therefore, he was not eligible for any first offender status," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "However, possessing three pills did not seem like a set of facts which warranted a sentence to the Department of Corrections, at this time."

The Steeleville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Dale W. Burke

On May 25, 42-year-old Dale W. Burke, of Willisville, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine (Class 3 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Burke was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation, with conditions to seek alcohol/substance abuse counseling.

During the plea, Burke also admitted to possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine located during a traffic stop in Sparta on April 9.

Burke also admitted operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine arising from the same set of facts leading to his arrest on the felony charge.

"Mr. Burke had a prior felony conviction in 2005, but this set of facts did not seem like the type of case we would have been able to secure a prison sentence on," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Therefore, we took the felony conviction and a DUI conviction, which will in theory prevent the defendant from driving in the future."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Aldonovan M. Bennett, II

On May 25, 20-year-old Aldonovan M. Bennett, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of stolen motor vehicle (Class 2 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

The matter has been set for a sentencing hearing on June 29 at 1 p.m. During the plea, Bennett admitted to possessing a vehicle he knew was stolen in Sparta on March 26.

"While we did not negotiate the case, I anticipate both of the parties will recommend a first offender probation status for Mr. Bennett," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "In drug-related cases, the first offender status can be automatic with a guilty plea; however, in other felony cases, a drug evaluation must be prepared before the first offender status can be imposed."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigator in this matter.

People v. Lavonn U. Monroe

On May 25, 46-year-old Lavonn U. Monroe, of Sparta, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and one year of probation following a sentencing hearing before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Monroe was sentenced for the offense of domestic battery, occurring in Sparta on February 27.

During the sentencing hearing, the State requested a term of three years in DOC, while the defendant requested a term of probation.

"Mr. Monroe had several prior felony convictions and prior sentences to the Department of Corrections," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Therefore, I did not think a probation disposition was appropriate and argued for a return trip to DOC.

"However, it did not work out. We will have one year to increase the penalty if Mr. Monroe is not able to successfully complete probation."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.