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Ruling on Motion to Add Charges in McBride Trial in Adams County Delayed Until Friday

The trial of a Quincy woman over a fatal car crash that killed a Rushville grandmother and her grandchildren is being delayed.

The delay into the trial of 37 year old Natasha McBride’s trial in Adams County Court stems from an argument on whether the Adams County State’s Attorney’s Office has leave to file an additional charge of aggravated driving under the influence in connection to the August 14, 2020 crash that caused the death of 54 year old Jennifer Hendricks of Rushville along with her three grandchildren. McBride already faces first degree murder and reckless homicide charges.

The Adams County state’s attorney’s office filed the aggravated driving under the influence charge on January 12th. Adams County Public Defender Todd Nelson previously argued prosecutors could have filed the charge earlier, saying it was based off evidence turned over in December 2020.

The trial has also been slightly delayed after Judge Robert Adrian was removed from criminal trials in Adams County Circuit Court. He has since been replaced by Judge Amy Lannerd.

Muddy River News reports that Lannerd asked that a ruling on the motion on the additional charge be delayed to Friday. Lannerd says the trial remains on the April 11th jury call. The motion and the additional charge remain sealed in the court.

Jury Selection Begins Today in Western IL Correctional Officers’ Federal Trial

Jury selection begins today for two Western Illinois Correctional Center guards charged in the 2018 death of an inmate.

Muddy River News reports that procedures for jury selection for the trial of Alex Banta of Quincy and Todd Sheffler of Mendon were heard yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long. The two correctional officers’ trial was originally supposed to begin last summer, but has been continued multiple times due to Covid-19.

The original indictment against Sheffler, Banta, and Willie Hedden was filed in December 2019 accusing the 3 guards had conspired and agreed on May 17, 2018, to forcibly remove 65 year old inmate Larry Earvin from his housing unit to a segregation unit. The three men then are alleged to have assaulted Earvin in a blind spot from the prison’s camera system without legal justification while he was handcuffed and restrained.

The assault left Earvin with 15 broken ribs, a punctured colon and two dozen or more abrasions, hemorrhages and lacerations. Earvin, who was serving a six-year sentence for robbery in Cook County and was scheduled to be paroled in September 2018 later died at Centralia Correctional Facility as a result of his injuries on June 26, 2018. An autopsy would later reveal Earvin’s death was due to blunt force trauma.

WBEZ in Chicago later reported that a nurse at the prison in Mt. Sterling reported the incident 5 days later to another staff member and said that she was aware that the blind spot in the prison had been used for multiple beatings. She went on to tell the co-workers that another guard, Blake Haubrich of Quincy allegedly threatened her to keep quiet about the blind spot. Haurbich has not been criminally charged but is named in the Earvin family’s civil suit over the case.

The December 2019 indictment of the three guards went on to say that Sheffler, Hedden and Banta knowingly filed false incident reports, falsely describing the escort of Earvin to the segregation housing unit and failing to disclose any assault of Earvin. The three men also knowingly misled agents from the Illinois State Police about knowledge of an assault of Ervin.

The 43 year old Hedden of Mt. Sterling pleaded guilty in March 2021 to two counts of civil rights violations and one count of providing misleading information in the subsequent investigation. During his plea hearing, Hedden agreed to provide cooperation and is currently listed as one of the federal government’s 74 potential witnesses that may be called to testify in what may be a 3-week trial against Sheffler and Banta. Hedden’s sentencing is scheduled for July.

According to the Associated Press, Hedden, Banta, Haubrich, and Correctional Lieutenant Benjamin Burnett, of Winchester were all initially placed on administrative leave with pay. State records indicate Burnett and Haubrich, who make $95,616 a year, are active on the Corrections payroll. Both are listed as potential witnesses.

During opening arguments yesterday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass described the beating for the court. Defense attorneys for Sheffler and Banta argued during opening statements that their clients weren’t where others claim they were at the time of the beating and that the testimony of dozens of witnesses will prove “illusory, contradictory and ambiguous.”

All three guards face up to life imprisonment and several thousands of dollars in fines.

I-72 Between Wabash & Veterans Parkway Exits To Be Reduced to One Lane For 9 Months

West Central Illinois drivers heading into Springfield are going to need to allow for extra time for the next 9 months.

WICS Newschannel 20 reports that repairs over the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge between Wabash Avenue and Veterans Parkway between Exit 91 and Exit 93 on Interstate 72 begins today. The repairs will focus on preserving structural integrity of the bridge deck and the approach to the bridge.

A minimum of one lane will remain open in both directions whiles the repairs are being completed.

WICS that the Illinois Department of Transportation expects the repairs to be completed by December 1st.

For more information, visit GettingAroundIllinois.com.

Chicago State Rep Pleads Guilty to DUI Charge from 2019

A Chicago State Representative will not have to serve jail time if he completes probation for a 2019 DUI arrest in Springfield.

26th District Representative Kam Buckner was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol on March 11th in Sangamon County Court.

According to WTAX, in March 2019, police found him asleep at the wheel near the Capitol. He refused a Breathalyzer test and failed field sobriety tests.

If Buckner successfully completes the year’s probation, Buckner will not have to serve a 28-day jail sentence.

According to court records, Buckner will have to pay $1,915 in fines and court costs. Buckner will have a compliance status on the case on January 11, 2023.

Dump Truck Overturns on Alsey-Manchester Road

One driver was injured after a dump truck overturned just west of Manchester this morning.

Initial EMS calls came into West Central Illinois Dispatch around 11AM of a dump truck upside-down on the Alsey-Manchester Road.

Eye witnesses at the scene told dispatch that the driver was initially unresponsive.

Winchester EMS, Winchester Fire, LifeStar EMS, Winchester Police, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Department were some of the initial responders to the scene.

The Alsey-Manchester Road remains closed while authorities clear the scene.

This is a developing story.

IHSA Announces eSports State Tournament Series

The IHSA has announced eight sectional sites and 153 schools entered for the inaugural state tournament series in eSports this spring.

PORTA, Glenwood, Springfield High, Lanphier, Southeast, Liberty, and Athens are among the inaugural schools taking part in the new IHSA-sanctioned sport in the area.

IHSA executive director Craig Anderson told RFD Illinois the numbers are good for a first year and are likely to grow moving forward. The IHSA can adopt a new sport or activity when 10% of membership, which is approximately 80 schools, offers it as a club. Anderson said a survey two years ago revealed that more than 100 schools around the state were offering it as a club. Anderson believes that as the notoriety of the State Tournament gains traction, more schools will offer it as a team sport.

Anderson says the popularity of eSports around the country has exploded in recent years and he’s glad to bring the opportunity to Illinois students.

Colleges are also now offering eSports as a competitive, sanctioned sport in many locations around the country. In some cases, some colleges are offering scholarships for eSports participants.

The first ever IHSA eSports state champion will be crowned April 30th at Bloomington High School.

Unoccupied Apartment Catches Fire at Beecher Hi Rise

Jacksonville and South Jacksonville Fire responded to a fire in an unoccupied apartment this morning.

Dispatch received a fire alarm call at approximately 4:30 this morning to the Beecher Hi-Rise Apartment complex. Upon arrival, firefighters learned of a fire in an unoccupied apartment on the 9th floor.

Residents of the complex were evacuated while firefighters extinguished the fire. No injuries have been reported. The incident is pending further investigation.

This is a developing story.

Chapin Officer Stable After Saturday Shooting

A Chapin Police officer remains in stable condition at an area hospital after being shot on Saturday.

Jacksonville Police Sergeant Sean Haefeli updated the Jacksonville City Council last night about the status of the unnamed 39 year old officer last night during the city council meeting.

Haefeli told the council that the officer had received surgery to his wounds since the Saturday incident in which he was shot in an attempt to apprehend 29-year-old Daniel B. Payne of Greenbrier, Tennessee in rural Brown County after a high speed chase.

Haefeli said that the officer may have to have a few more surgeries, but remains stable. Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard asked those in attendance to keep the officer and his family in their thoughts and prayers at this time.

Payne made his first appearance in Brown County Court yesterday and is charged with attempted first degree murder of a peace officer. He remains held on $1 million bond at the Schuyler County Jail.

Nilwood Looking to Overhaul Water System

The Village of Nilwood in northern Macoupin County is looking to completely overhaul its water system with the help of a Jacksonville engineering firm.

The village held a public hearing on Monday in regards to updating its water system by adding a new 75,000 gallon elevated water tower, new water meters and meter reading system, and other related fixtures.

According to the Macoupin County Enquirer-Democrat, the Illinois EPA told the village that the current water tower, built in 1971, is beyond its useful life.

Benton & Associates in Jacksonville has submitted the plans to the Illinois EPA on behalf of the village. Nilwood plans on getting a $2.6 million low-interest loan from the Public Water Supply Loan Program for a term of 30 years. Annual payments on the loan would be just over $100,000.

Currently, there is a public comment period that has been open since Tuesday on the project. Written comments may be submitted to the Village of Nilwood and to the Illinois EPA’s project manager Chad Rice in Springfield.

Chapin Police Officer Shot In Rural Brown County

Multiple agencies were involved in a multi-county pursuit resulting in one police officer being shot in rural Brown County on Saturday night.

On Saturday around 11PM, a traffic stop was initiated by the Meredosia Police Department. According to the Illinois State Police, 29 year old Daniel B. Payne of Greenbrier, Tennessee fled from the stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit, involving multiple agencies, led officers through Pike and Brown counties. The pursuit ended when Payne’s vehicle crashed and became disabled in the roadway on Illinois Route 107, just north of County Road 410N, about 2 1/2 miles north of Zion Church.

As officers approached Payne’s crashed vehicle, Payne fired shots at and struck a 39 year old male police officer from the Chapin Police Department. The officers returned fire, causing Payne to surrender, and then, Payne was taken into custody.

The unnamed officer with 7 years of service to the Chapin Police Department sustained serious injury and was transported from the scene to an area hospital. The officer is stable and is expected to make a full recovery. Payne was also transported to an area hospital for minor injuries from the vehicle crash, and was treated and released and taken into custody. He is currently lodged at the Schuyler County Jail.

The Brown County State’s Attorney’s Office has approved the charge of one count of Attempted First Degree Murder of a Police Officer against Payne. Payne’s bond is currently set at $1 million with 10% to apply.

The investigation is active and ongoing by multiple agencies including the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation, Zone 4.