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Randolph County state's attorney case updates

Posted April 25, 2016 11:00 pm

By Staff Report

People v. Jared J. Valleroy:

On April 7, 39-year-old Jared J. Valleroy, of Perryville, Mo., pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of home repair fraud (a Class A Misdemeanor) before Judge Gene Gross.

Pursuant to the plea, a felony charge of aggravated home repair fraud was reduced to the lesser charge. The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $350 and was placed on court supervision for a period of one year.

During the plea, Valleroy admitted to failing to perform work on a home in Chester in February 2015, which he had agreed to do and been paid for.

"We had attempted to work this matter out before filing charges, but could not get the money repaid, which was our number one objective for the victim," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Once charges were filed, the money was repaid and we reduced the charge to a misdemeanor, but would not dismiss the case in its entirety."

The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

People v. Steven A. Garrison:

On April 7, 36-year-old Steven A. Garrison, of Hillsboro, Mo., pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of domestic battery (a Class A misdemeanor) before Judge Gene Gross.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, a felony charge of aggravated domestic battery was reduced to the lesser charge of domestic battery and the defendant was convicted of the offense.

No fine or costs were imposed. During the plea, Garrison admitted to causing bodily harm to a family/household member in Prairie du Rocher on December 10, 2015.

"While the case was pending, Mr. Garrison was sent to the Department of Corrections on an unrelated charge in another county," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Also, the victim indicated she no longer wanted to pursue charges. Therefore, we took the felony off the table, convicted him of the offense and move forward,"

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

People v. Gregory S. Pixley:

On April 12, 52-year-old Gregory S. Pixley, of Belleville, pleaded guilty to theft over $500 (a Class 3 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

No agreement was reached as to the sentence and the matter is set for a sentencing hearing on May 16 at 1 p.m.

During the plea, Pixley admitted to exerting unauthorized control over car batteries of an auto dealership near Steeleville on October 30, 2015.

"Mr. Pixley appears to have prior convictions and I was seeking a sentence to the Department of Corrections, while the defendant desired a probation disposition," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "In an open plea such as this, we will have a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) prepared and then argue to the Court what the appropriate sentence should be.

"I will wait and see what the PSI shows and argue accordingly,"

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

People v. Bethany D. Payne:

On April 13, 23-year-old Bethany D. Payne, of Murphysboro, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (a Class 4 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Payne was sentenced to 30 days in jail, placed on probation for a period of two years, ordered to pay the court costs and must seek any alcohol and substance abuse treatment as directed by the probation department during the course of her probation.

During the plea, Payne admitted to possessing less than 15 grams of Xanax on March 26, located during a traffic stop effectuated by a Randolph County Sheriff's deputy.

"I did not have any information Ms. Payne had been in trouble before; therefore, she was given first offender probation," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "This first offender provision will allow her to avoid a felony conviction, provided she does not get in trouble during the next two years and completes her drug treatment.

"We certainly hope she runs with this opportunity and will avoid the lifelong consequences of a felony conviction if she does not."

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

People v. Ryan A. Salsman:

On April 13, 29-year-old Ryan A. Salsman, of Hannibal, Mo., pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (a Class 4 felony) before Judge Richard A. Brown.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Salsman was sentenced to 30 days in jail and placed on probation for a period of two years, with a condition to seek substance abuse treatment as directed by the probation department.

During the plea, Salsman admitted to possessing less than 15 grams of lorazepam in Steeleville on March 26.

"Mr. Salsman had a prior felony conviction; therefore, this will be a felony conviction also," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "However, while I am not generally a proponent of giving probation to subsequent offenders, this was a small amount of a prescription medication and Mr. Salsman appeared to just be visiting Steeleville and was a resident in Hannibal, Mo.

"Given all of that, I did not feel it was in the best interests of this county to push for a stronger sentence."

The Steeleville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

People v. Christopher W. Dunn:

On April 13, 22-year-old Christopher W. Dunn, 22 of Modoc, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (a Class 4 felony).

No agreement was reached as to the sentence and the matter is set for a sentencing hearing on May 16 at 1 p.m.

During the plea, Dunn admitted to possessing less than 15 grams of alprazolam located by a sheriff's deputy on December 30, 2015 during a traffic stop.

"Mr. Dunn has been to DOC before, so I anticipate requesting a similar sentence, but I will wait for the PSI to be completed and argue for what I feel is an appropriate sentence during the sentencing hearing on May 16," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker.

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

People v. James D. Wallace:

On April 15, 45-year-old James D. Wallace, of Marissa, was found guilty of aggravated DUI ( a Class 2 felony) following a jury trial, presided over by Judge Gene Gross.

Wallace was found guilty of driving a motor vehicle between Coulterville and Tilden on April 7, 2015 while under the influence of alcohol.

The charge was enhanced to a Class 2 felony due to three prior DUI dispositions. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 6, at 1 p.m.

"Mr. Wallace will have to do time in the Department of Corrections as a result of this conviction, as it carries a mandatory minimum DOC sentence of three years," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "It took parts of three days to try this case and certainly we are pleased with a conviction.

"I tried to resolve this matter with the defendant to avoid the mandatory prison sentence, but there was no interest in resolving the case without a DUI conviction. Based on the record of the defendant, I did not feel I could resolve the case without a DUI conviction of some sort to ensure his driver's license was revoked."

The Illinois State Police handled the investigation in this matter.

People v. Keith A. Claybourn:

On April 15, 31-year-old Keith A. Claybourn, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of battery (a Class A misdemeanor), was fined $1,000 and sentenced to time served in jail.

During the plea, Claybourn admitted to shoving a person in Sparta on March 6. The charging document struck language regarding the victim being a police officer to effectuate the reduction in charges.

"A few days in jail and a $1,000 fine seemed appropriate for shoving a police officer," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "While the final charging document struck that language, the victim was indeed a police officer.

"Luckily the officer was not hurt, but I still treat someone putting their hands on a police officer very seriously."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

People v. Adam L. Fortner:

On April 15, 21-year-old Adam L. Fortner, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to the offense of residential burglary (a Class 1 felony) and was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with a recommendation for placement in the impact incarceration program.

During the plea, Fortner admitted to entering a dwelling place of another with the intent to commit a theft in Sparta on March 17.

At the time of the plea, the State dismissed a pending possession of methamphetamine (a Class 3 felony) charge and a criminal damage to property (a Class A misdemeanor) charge.

"Mr. Fortner had no prior felony convictions before this matter; however, residential burglary is a serious offense and is not eligible for probation,"said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. " A person this age and lack of prior history is a perfect fit, in my opinion, for the boot camp program and I hope it literally and figuratively kicks this young man into shape."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

People v. Jerome A. Smith:

On April 15, Jerome A. Smith, was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Judge Richard A. Brown following a sentencing hearing.

Smith had previously admitted to entering a vehicle in Sparta on January 25 with the intent to commit a theft.

At the time of the plea on March 11, no agreement was reached on the sentence. During the sentencing hearing, the State provided testimony from Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Kempfer regarding the items taken in this matter (small change and some cash).

Additionally, Kempfer provided testimony of 28 other reports the Sparta Police received from November 2015 through the date of this offense regarding burglary from automobile complaints.

Finally, testimony was offered regarding the similar nature of those complaints from the items taken (change from the ashtray, small items), the similar time of day of those complaints to the instant charge and finally, that after the arrest of the defendant, the complaints of other burglaries ceased.

The State requested a sentence of seven years in DOC, while the Defendant requested the minimum term of three years.

"I will be the first to admit we cannot directly link the defendant to these other complaints, but certainly feel it is more than a coincidence the problems stopped with his arrest," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "For that reason, and the fact the defendant has previously served five years for burglary, we felt the maximum sentence (without taking into consideration extended term possibilities) was appropriate."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation into this matter.

People v. John G. Haslett:

On April 18, this matter (unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing materials) was dismissed on the Motion of the State.

"Mr. Haslett was indicted by the federal authorities while this matter was pending and the defendant was ultimately sentenced to 65 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "We felt this was an appropriate sentence and dismissed the State case, due to the federal prosecution."

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