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Perry County sentences

<i>Perry County State's Attorney David H. Searby Jr. announces the following sentences to the Illinois Department of Corrections in January 2021.</i>

Kenneth E. Ferguson, 58, of Du Quoin, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to driving while license revoked, a Class 3 Felony, on Jan. 7. Ferguson was sentenced to three years and six months in IDOC with applicable credit for time previously served, and a one-year mandatory supervised release period. The Pinckneyville Police Department was responsible for the arrest in the Ferguson matter.

Thomas R. Copple, 50, of Cutler, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to driving while license revoked, a Class 4 Felony, and following a sentencing hearing conducted by the court on Jan. 7. Copple was sentenced to one year and six months in IDOC, with applicable credit for time previously served and with a one-year mandatory supervised release period. The Perry County Sheriff's Office was responsible for the arrest in the Copple matter.

Nathanael J. Conver-Rice, 22, of Du Quoin, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver cannabis, a Class 2 Felony, and unlawful use or possession of weapons by a felon, Class 3 Felony. This follows a sentencing hearing conducted by the court on Jan. 7.

Conver-Rice was sentenced to concurrent three year terms on the offense of possession with intent to deliver cannabis; and four years on the offense of unlawful possession of weapons by felon, with applicable credit for time served. The Possession with Intent to Deliver Cannabis sentence has a two-year mandatory supervised release period and the Unlawful Use or Possession of Weapons by a Felon sentence has a one-year mandatory supervised release period.

The Perry County Drug Task Force, comprised of the Du Quoin Police Department, Pinckneyville Police Department and Perry County Sheriff's Office, was responsible for the investigation and arrest in the Conver-Rice matter.

Richelle D. Melvin, 42, of Du Quoin, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after having admitted to the allegations of a Petition to Revoke Probation for the original offense of Domestic Battery, a Class 4 Felony, on Jan. 12. Melvin was sentenced to one year in IDOC, with applicable credit for time previously served, and with a four-year mandatory supervised release period. The Du Quoin Police Department was responsible for the investigation and arrest in the Melvin matter.

Darius Hammond, 36, of Chicago, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 Felony, on Jan. 20. Hammond was sentenced to one year in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with applicable credit for time previously served, and with a one-year mandatory supervised release period. The Illinois Department of Corrections was responsible for the investigation in the Hammond matter.