Huckstep sentenced to three years in IDOC
<p dir="ltr"><span>A 23-year-old Evansville man has been sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after admitting he violated his probation by fleeing from police on April 29.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker, John W. Huckstep III was sentenced June 2 and as part of the plea agreement, he will be recommended for the impact incarceration program (boot camp) within IDOC.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Mr. Huckstep seems the perfect candidate for the impact incarceration program in that he is young and just does not seem to get the fact there are consequences for his actions," Walker said in a statement. "I truly hope the boot camp will whip him into shape, both physically and mentally, and he can be a positive member of society.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"If that happens, we are all better off. If that does not happen, future prison sentences would be in his future if further criminal conduct occurs,"</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>On April 29, Huckstep appeared at the Randolph County Courthouse after missing a scheduled court hearing earlier that week.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"He voluntarily came to the courthouse knowing he missed his court date," Walker said in previous comments to the Herald Tribune. "He was advised to see his probation officer to take a drug test and he ended up running."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>After a lengthy chase through Chester's residential areas, Huckstep was eventually apprehended by Chester police.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Huckstep was charged with robbery - a Class 2 felony punishable by three of seven years in prison - in December 2015, but the charge was reduced to criminal trespass to a residence knowing the resident was present (a Class 4 felony) after the victim recanted their statement in saying nothing was taken.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"He didn't leave the residence after being told to leave and received probation for the trespass charge," Walker previously said.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>According to online court records, Huckstep has a lengthy criminal history. He was sentenced to 60 days in the Randolph County Jail in May 2015 for resisting a peace officer and was also sentenced to another 60 days - plus two years probation - in December for the criminal trespass charge.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Other listed offenses - which date back to 2011 - include disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, consumption of liquor by a minor, damage to property, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery, obstructing a peace officer and various motor vehicle violations.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The Chester Police Department investigated the original case placing Huckstep on probation, as well as the probation violation. According to online IDOC records, Huckstep's projected parole date is October 27, 2017.</span>