CPD informant gets prison time for theft

A 23-year-old Chester Police Department informant pleaded guilty to theft over $500 on Monday and was sentenced to three years in prison by Judge Richard A. Brown.
Perry J. Nesbitt, of Sparta, per the negotiated plea, admitted to taking $800 cash from the CPD on October 16. Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker announced the resolution in a Tuesday news release.
"Mr. Nesbitt was to work as a confidential informant and was given the money to purchase drugs, not for his services, but was to purchase a quantity of methamphetamine with the $800," Walker said. "However, he took off and we did not see him until a warrant secured his arrest."
Nesbitt, according to online court records, has previous convictions for battery, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal damage to property.
"Perry has prior felonies, but no prior (Department of Corrections) commitments," Walker said. "Based on his criminal records, and the need to show we do not show favoritism to those who are to cooperate with law enforcement, a DOC sentence seemed necessary and appropriate."
Walker noted this incident is a first for him.
"This is the first time somebody's actually walked off with the money we supplied to buy the dope," he said. "We don't just use anybody, but part of the problem with stopping drug dealers is getting good, reliable people to buy off of.
"To a degree, we have to use people who know these drug dealers."
The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• Cecelia A. Hoskin
Cecelia A. Hoskin, 45, of Willisville, pleaded guilty on December 4 to the offense of aggravated battery before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Hoskin was sentenced to four years in prison. During the plea, Hoskin admitted to striking Coulterville Police Chief Jason Schlesinger with her vehicle during a pursuit on September 21.
Two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding were dismissed pursuant to the plea.
"Ms. Hoskin was on probation for a burglary in Perry County at the time of offense, which made her ineligible for probation," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "The aggravated battery charge was the most severe charge we had against Ms. Hoskin and took her plea on that offense.
"Luckily, Chief Schlesinger wasn't seriously injured and four years in prison felt appropriate given the stupidity of her actions on September 21."
The Coulterville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• Tabitha M. Rice
On December 4, 26-year-old Tabitha M. Rice, of Willisville, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Rice was sentenced to two years in prison. During the plea, Rice admitted to possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine located during a traffic stop in Steeleville on October 6.
"Ms. Rice had a prior methamphetamine offense in Perry County in 2013 and a possession of controlled substance conviction in Randolph County in 2015," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker.
The Steeleville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• James M. Reese
On December 4, 34-year-old James M. Reese, of Coulterville, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Reese was sentenced to four years in prison. During the plea, Reese admitted to possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine located during a traffic stop in Coulterville on September 5.
"Mr. Reese was on probation for a methamphetamine offense in St. Clair County at the time of his arrest," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "For that reason, we did not believe probation was an adequate punishment."
The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation in this matter.
• Shaquille Bulliner
On December 4, 23-year-old Shaquille D. Bulliner, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the plea, Bulliner was sentenced to four years in prison. During the plea, Bulliner admitted to possessing a firearm in Sparta on August 8 after having been convicted of a felony.
Bulliner was working in one of the World Shooting and Recreational Complex's trap houses during the Amateur Trapshooting Association's Grand American when he was arrested.
"This offense is not eligible for probation and requires a DOC sentence," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Furthermore, Mr. Bulliner previously has been to DOC for a three year stint in 2012."
The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation.
• David Shemonia
On December 4, 50-year-old David L. Shemonia, of Baldwin, pleaded guilty to the offense of retail theft before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the plea, Shemonia was sentenced to two years of probation and is to remain in the Randolph County Jail until placed in residential treatment.
During the plea, Shemonia admitted to stealing items from Buchheit's in Sparta on September 24, with a value in excess of $300.
"Mr. Shemonia was on first offender probation for a methamphetamine related offense at the time he committed this crime," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "The probation in that case was terminated unsuccessfully and a conviction, which would not have been entered against him had he completed probation, was entered on his record.
"Furthermore, Mr. Shemonia was convicted of this offense and will now stay in jail for treatment."
The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• Mary J. Knuckles
On December 4, 51-year-old Mary J. Knuckles, of Tilden, pleaded guilty to the offense of threatening a public official before Judge Gene Gross.
Pursuant to the plea, Knuckles was sentenced to time served in jail and two years of probation, with conditions to seek mental health and substance abuse evaluations and any recommended treatment.
During the plea, Knuckles admitted to threatening Judge Richard A. Brown by making a Facebook post on November 20 that asked for someone to kill Brown in return for $6,000.
"Ms. Knuckles had a prior felony in 2003, but no other history," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "After speaking with Judge Brown regarding his opinion as to punishment, time served in jail and probation was offered to Ms. Knuckles.
"In this day and age we have to take all threats seriously."
The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation in this matter.
• John J. Ehlinger
On December 4, 29-year-old John J. Ehlinger, of St. Louis, Mo., pleaded guilty to the offense of violation of order of protection and was placed on conditional discharge for a period of two years, with the condition to have no contact with the victim or her family.
A related, but separate, charge of stalking was dismissed with leave to reinstate, pursuant to the plea.
During the plea, Ehlinger admitted to reaching out to the victim on social media, after having been served with an order of protection.
"I met with the victim and her family regarding the disposition," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "All the victim wanted was for the defendant to leave her alone.
"Since the initiation of the felony charge, there has been no contact. If there is any further contact, the felony charge can and will be re-filed."
The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation in this matter.
• Brandon Jones
On December 4, 28-year-old Brandon L. Jones, of Sparta, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal damage to property (Class A misdemeanor) before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the plea, Jones was ordered to pay restitution for the damage. During the plea, Jones admitted to damaging an apartment building door in Sparta on August 25.
"Sometimes I joke with people we really only need two charges in our criminal justice system, misdemeanor stupid and felony stupid," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Damaging a door to an apartment complex seemed misdemeanor stupid to me, especially when we have money from bond to substantially pay for the damage."
The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• Bradley L. Sronce
On December 11, 2017, Bradley L. Sronce, 55 of Oakdale, pleaded guilty to the offense of theft over $500 before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the plea, Sronce was sentenced to serve four years in prison. During the plea, Sronce admitted to stealing a 1995 pickup truck in Coulterville on September 25.
"Mr. Sronce recently served three years in the Department of Corrections for a similar offense and possibly, and frankly probably, deserved more time," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "However, he was found in Kansas with the vehicle. Therefore, if we went to trial we would have had to pay a Kansas state trooper to come to Randolph County and testify regarding what he was told and saw. To save money, we took the plea."
The Coulterville Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• Joshua J. Woolard
On December 11, 34-year-old Joshua J. Woolard, of Willisville, pleaded guilty to the offense of unlawful possession of methamphetamine before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the plea, Woolard was sentenced to three years in prison, to run concurrent with a Perry County (Illinois) methamphetamine-related charge.
Furthermore, Woolard had an additional charge of possession of methamphetamine dismissed.
During the plea, Woolard admitted to possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine located during a traffic stop on April 7 by a Randolph County Sheriff's Office deputy.
"Mr. Woolard had no prior history before the April 7 incident, and we actually had offered first offender probation after that arrest," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker, who noted that Woolard went from no criminal history in April to a prison sentence in December. "However, his summer did not go well and he was arrested in Perry County for an offense and another offense in Randolph County."
The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation in this matter.
• Derrick L. Downey
On December 11, 33-year-old Derrick L. Downey, of Chester, pleaded guilty to the offense of aggravated battery before Judge Richard A. Brown.
Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Downey was sentenced to 90 days in jail and probation for a period of two years, with conditions to stay away from the victim and seek counseling for mental health and substance abuse issues.
During the plea, Downey admitted to causing bruising on the back of a minor child of less than 13 years of age on July 28 in Chester.
"Mr. Downey, as stated in the charging document, caused some bruising on the back of a male child, whom was the son of his girlfriend," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "I consulted with the victim's father and due to the lack of significant injury, the father only wanted to make sure Mr. Downey was not allowed near his child."
The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.
• Travis L. Lailer
On December 11, 26-year-old Travis L. Lailer, of Chester, was sentenced to 30 months of probation by Judge Gene Gross following a sentencing hearing.
Lailer had previously pleaded guilty to the offense of criminal damage to property regarding an incident occurring near Chester on September 12.
During the sentencing hearing, the State requested a term of two years in prison, with a boot camp recommendation. Lailer, who was incarcerated at the Randolph County Jail from the time of the offense to his sentencing, successfully argued for a term of probation.
"Mr. Lailer pleaded guilty to damaging a driveway by doing an excessive burnout on the driveway," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed he did not have a driver's license and was likely under the influence of alcohol.
"Furthermore, evidence showed Mr. Lailer had been on probation as recently as last year for burglary."
Walker noted he did not feel probation was appropriate in this case given Lailer's criminal history, but was not surprised with Gross's decision.
"I can't say I was surprised Travis was not sent to prison, with the current movement to keep non-violent offenders out of DOC," he said. "However, I just can't buy into that school of thought and still advocate for such a disposition when you have the criminal history someone as Mr. Lailer."
The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation in this matter.