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Updates from Randolph County court

Posted February 15, 2017 10:00 pm

By Staff Report

William J. Welmon:

On January 11, 38-year-old William J. Welmon, of Collinsville, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Class 1 felony) before Circuit Court Judge Richard A. Brown.

No agreement was reached as to the sentence and the matter has been scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 2 at 1 p.m.

During the plea, Welmon admitted to delivery more than 1 gram, but less than 15 grams of heroin to confidential information on March 31, 2016 in Sparta.

“It does not appear Mr. Welmon has a criminal history and is eligible for probation,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “However, it is my general policy to not offer drug dealers probation.

“If they are eligible for that disposition, and the court grants it to them, we can’t prevent that.”

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Joshua A. Harris:

On January 11, 32-year-old Joshua A. Harris, of Du Quoin, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia (Class A misdemeanor) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the plea, Harris was fined $500 and ordered to contribute $500 to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Drug Fund. A felony charge of unlawful possession of methamphetamine was dismissed, pursuant to the plea.

During the plea, Harris admitted to possessing an item of drug paraphernalia located during a traffic stop in Steeleville on August 24, 2016.

“Mr. Harris was a passenger in the car and the driver of the vehicle ultimately admitted to ownership of the alleged meth located in a common area of the car,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “Therefore, we added a misdemeanor charge and put a little money in the coffers for drug enforcement activities.”

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Steeleville Police Department, investigated this matter.

Taryn Sensmeyer:

On January 18, 26-year-old Taryn L. Sensmeyer, of Addieville, pleaded guilty to the offense of disorderly conduct (Class A misdemeanor) before the Associate Circuit Court Judge Gene Gross. Pursuant to the plea, Sensmeyer was ordered to pay a $350 total fines/costs and spent three days in jail before resolving the charge.

The State reduced the offense from a Class 4 felony to the Class A misdemeanor to facilitate the plea.

During the plea, Sensmeyer admitted to providing false information to a Sparta Police Officer regarding an alleged crime on May 11, 2016.

“Ms. Sensmeyer had originally reported to the Sparta Police Department she was the victim of a crime, which after further investigation, revealed no crime had been committed,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “Ms. Sensmeyer did not have any prior felony convictions and a few days in jail, with a fine, seemed like appropriate punishment for wasting everyone’s time.”

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Henry Hammonds:

On January 20, 36-year-old Henry B. Hammonds, of Prairie du Rocher, was sentenced to two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and ordered to pay court costs and restitution before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Hammonds originally pleaded guilty to the offense of theft over $500 and the matter was set for a sentencing hearing on January 20.

However, before the sentencing hearing, the State, with input from the victim, ultimately reached an agreement with the defendant as to the sentence.

“This was not the first felony theft case for the defendant, but it had been 10 years since he had been in trouble,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “While myself, and a representative from victim, felt a prison sentence was likely, we made the decision to guarantee an outcome and take a two-year sentence to IDOC.”

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Red Bud Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Kimberly D. Neville:

On January 31, 32-year-old Kimberly D. Neville, of Percy, pleaded guilty to the offense of theft Over $500 (Class 3 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown and was sentenced to two days in jail, two years conditional discharge, pay a fine of $1,000 and restitution to the victim.

During the plea, Neville admitted to stealing from the Steeleville American Legion between March 2012 and April 2015.

“Ms. Neville did not have a prior criminal history prior to this incident,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “Based on that fact, I did not see the court sending Ms. Neville to IDOC.

“However, myself and several representatives from the victim felt a little more jail time may have been appropriate.”

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

Jessica Williams

On February 2, 26-year-old Jessica L. Williams, of East St. Louis, pleaded guilty to the offense of forgery (Class 3 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown and was sentenced to two years of probation, ordered to make restitution and pay court costs.

During the plea, Williams admitted to passing an altered check at Rozier’s in Chester on June 8, 2016.

A possession of controlled substance (Class 4 felony) charge was dismissed to facilitate the plea. “Ms. Williams passed the altered check, and in a later traffic stop, a quantity of cocaine was found in the vehicle,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “We are still prosecuting the other passenger in the car for that offense; however, the forgery charge Ms. Williams pleaded to was the most serious charge we had.”

The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Sebastian T. Throop

On February 6, 26-year-old Sebastian T. Throop, of Ellis Grove, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (Class 4 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Throop was ordered to remain in the Randolph County Jail for placement in a residential drug treatment facility, placed on probation for two years and required to pay court costs.

During the plea. Throop admitted to possessing less than 15 grams of acetaminophen and hydrocodone on December 3, 2016 in Chester.

“Mr. Throop was on probation for a similar offense, and lost his first offender status in that case as a result of this,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “Between that outcome, and this case, Mr. Throop now has two felony convictions and will remain in jail, where he has remained since the arrest, for a residential treatment bed.”

The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Ronald J. Lange, Jr.

On February 6, 37-year-old Ronald J. Lange, Jr., of Park Hills, Mo., pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of theft under $500 (Class A misdemeanor) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Lange was ordered to pay restitution to the victim and $1,800 in total fines/costs.

A charge of financial exploitation of an elderly person (Class 3 felony) was dismissed and a felony theft charge was reduced to a misdemeanor to facilitate the plea.

During the plea, Lange admitted to exerting unauthorized control over property of a person in rural Red Bud on August 23, 2011.

“Mr. Lange had a warrant out for him since February 10, 2012,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “During that time period, the defendant was incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corrections and was receiving credit for any sentence in this case.

“Therefore, even if we won a trial, and the court imposed the maximum sentence of five years, Mr. Lange would not have had served any time in IDOC.”

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

Michael J. Piechoinski

On February 6, 46-year-old Michael J. Piechoinski, of Nashville, was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following a sentencing hearing before the Judge Richard A. Brown.

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

Piechoinski had previously pleaded guilty to the offense of burglary occurring in Tilden on October 21, 2016.

“Mr. Piechoinski had several prior felony offenses, and was currently on probation in two different counties (Randolph and Washington),” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “We do not always get our request on repeat offense, but I generally do not agree with probation for them.

“I certainly hope this time in corrections gives the defendant some time to reflect on his life choices, as he is no longer a kid. He better figure things out.”

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

Cynthia Albert

On February 6, 46-year-old Cynthia A. Albert, of Chester, was sentenced to six months in Randolph County Jail and two years of probation following a sentencing hearing before Judge Richard A. Brown.

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

Albert had previously pleaded guilty to the offense of aggravated battery (victim under 13 years of age) regarding an incident occurring in Chester on September 14, 2016.

“Ms. Albert had a previous felony conviction for forgery,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “Based on that fact, and the victim in this case being a child, I felt a IDOC sentence was appropriate.

“We presented a statement from the victim at sentencing and did all we could to try to get a IDOC sentence. It didn’t happen and we are disappointed, but at the same time, Ms. Albert has been in custody since September and will remain in custody until March.”

The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Lewis D. Higgins

On February 9, 52-year-old Lewis D. Higgins, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of another’s credit card (Class 4 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

No agreement was reached as to the sentence and the matter has been set for a sentencing hearing on March 13 at 1 p.m.

During the plea, Higgins admitted to possessing the credit card of another without the consent of the cardholder in Sparta in July and August 2016.

“Mr. Higgins is currently on probation in another county and we anticipate seeking a sentence to corrections at the sentencing hearing on March 13,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “The victim is out about $2,000 due to charges the defendant made in this matter on the card and she is desirous of a sentence to DOC; therefore, we will advocate for such on her behalf.”

The Sparta Police Department handed the investigation in this matter.

Jacob Eisenmann

On February 10, 2017, 27-year-old Jacob. W Eisenmann, of Red Bud, was sentenced to six months in the Randolph County Jail, two years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Eisenmann had previously pleaded guilty to the offense of aggravated fleeing and eluding a peace officer regarding an incident occurring in rural Red Bud on October 16, 2015.

During the sentencing hearing, the State requested a term of five years in the Department of Corrections, while the defendant requested a term of probation.

“Mr. Eisenmann not only ran from the police officers, but then evaded a warrant for nearly a year in this matter,” said Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker. “Based on those facts, as well as an extensive criminal history involving prior sentenced to DOC, I just simply could not disagree more with this sentence.

“Nonetheless, we respect the decision of the court and move on.”

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

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