Menard inmate charged with weapon possession
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Menard Correctional Center inmate Thomas R. Crites appeared in Randolph County Court on Friday for his preliminary hearing after being charged with unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Crites, 37, is alleged to have been in possession of a sharpened piece of wood with a handle, commonly referred to as a shank. The charge is a Class 1 felony with a punishment range of four to 15 years in prison.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker, the weapon was found after Crites unsuccessfully tried to flush it and clogged the toilet in the process.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Crites is currently serving time for aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon (Class 3 felony), possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felony), aggravated discharge of a weapon by a felon (Class 1 felony) and "armed habitual criminal" (Class X felony), according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">He is scheduled to be released in February 2018. On Friday, he pleaded not guilty and waived his right to his preliminary hearing.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Crites told Circuit Court Judge Richard A. Brown he had no means to afford a lawyer and Beth Heaten, of Sparta, was appointed his defense attorney. His next court appearance has been scheduled for May 12 at 9 a.m.</span>