Two sentenced on theft convictions
MARION - Jeremy L. Taylor, 31, of Marion, pleaded guilty last week in Williamson County Circuit Court to retail theft, a Class 3 felony, and was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC).
Between Nov. 9 and 10 of 2016, Walmart investigative footage revealed someone matching Taylor's description stealing a drone and a home theater system from the Marion store. The Marion Police Department's investigation led them to Taylor, who was then charged with the offense.
Taylor will have one year of mandatory supervised release following his release from DOC. Taylor has a criminal history, including convictions for burglary and domestic battery.
"Somehow, this day in age, people think they are actually going to get away with a theft from a retail establishment like Walmart, which has security cameras virtually everywhere in the store," said Williamson County State's Attorney Brandon Zanotti. "I commend the Marion Police Department for its thorough investigative work in this case."
<h3 class="breakHead">Duncan pleads guilty to theft of trailer</h3>
Larry D. Duncan, 29, of West Frankfort, pleaded guilty last week in Williamson County Circuit Court to theft, a Class 3 felony, and was sentenced to three years in prison.
In August 2017, Duncan was hired in Marion for landscaping work, and was told he could use the owner's flatbed trailer to assist him. Duncan did not finish the work, and stole the trailer, which was never recovered.
Duncan was on mandatory supervised release at the time of the offense from a burglary conviction in Franklin County. He will be on mandatory supervised release for one year following his release from this sentence. A restitution hearing for the trailer is set for Aug. 22.
"We have seen too many recent cases where people are hired for odd jobs in the community, only to betray that trust and steal from those hiring them," Zanotti said. "I would like to remind everyone looking to hire for housework and landscaping to research those you want to hire, or ask for references from them."