(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
Feb. 13
Columbia police, fire and EMS assisted  Illinois State Police in responding about 5:20 p.m. to a two-vehicle crash on eastbound I-255 near the 4.8 mile marker on the Illinois side of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge. A white sedan rolled down an embankment near Ramsey Road following the collision, deploying airbags.  No injuries were reported in the crash.

Feb. 14
Bianca R. Vance, 40, of Fenton, Mo., was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. for DUI in the 600 block of North Main Street.

Feb. 19
Kaitlyn Foutch, 26, of East Carondelet, was charged with possession of a hypodermic syringe.

Millstadt Police
Feb. 3
Michael C. Robinette, 26, of Millstadt, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant, two counts of obstructing identification, obstructing a peace officer, no valid license, and other traffic offenses.

Feb. 10
Grey M. Howell, 24, of Millstadt, was arrested on Randolph and Monroe county traffic warrants during a traffic stop on West Madison Street.

Waterloo Police
Feb. 12
Chad E. Williams, 35, of St. Louis, was arrested on a charge of felony possession of methamphetamine (less than five grams) stemming from an incident last year.

The theft of a TV and computer from Walmart, 961 N. Market Street, is under investigation.

Feb. 13
Chad A. Crank, 35, of Columbia, was arrested on multiple Monroe County failure to appear warrants.

Michael Davis, 18, of Valmeyer, was arrested for battery following an incident at the Career Center of Southern Illinois bus drop-off point on North Rogers Street at East First Street.

Feb. 16
Joseph Decker, 37, of Waterloo, was arrested at 100 Polo Run on a Monroe County warrant for felony aggravated possession of stolen firearms. He is alleged to have had five stolen firearms in his possession. On Feb. 18, Kari L. Trankle, 34, of Waterloo, was arrested for felony obstructing justice in connection with this case. Trankle is alleged to have lied to police about Decker’s whereabouts in an attempt to prevent his arrest.

The theft of a bicycle valued at $1,500 from the porch of a home in the 100 block of East First Street is under investigation. The bike has since been returned to its owner, but the incident remains under investigation.

Feb. 18
Krystal R. Howerton, 30, of St. Ann, Mo., was charged with possession of a controlled substance (morphine sulfate) and obstructing justice.

The theft of multiple items from Rural King, 740 N. Market Street, is under investigation.

A fight reported shortly before 2 a.m. in the 100 block of North Main Street is under investigation.

Firemen assess the scene Thursday morning following a house fire on Trout Camp Road. (Kermit Constantine photo)

The Waterloo and Valmeyer fire departments responded about 9:25 a.m. Thursday to a house fire at 3121 Trout Camp Road.

The house was unoccupied at the time of the blaze, with the exterior of the structure on fire upon firefighter arrival.

Waterloo Fire Chief Aaron Shive said a heat lamp in a doghouse located next to the home caused the fire, destroying the doghouse and damaging both fencing and an exterior corner of the two-story residence.

Waterloo firefighter Matt Blind, who lives nearby, was first on scene and knocked down much of the fire using a garden hose on the property, Shive said.

Three pit bulls at the home were unharmed in the incident.

“They were super friendly and came right to us,” Shive said.

The owner of the home is Ervin Fedro.

Frankie Hook

Multiple police agencies were involved in the pursuit and eventual apprehension Saturday night in Columbia of a man wanted for an incident in St. Clair County. A Cahokia man is now charged with multiple felonies.

The St. Clair Sheriff’s Department said a deputy observed a blue 2002 Honda Accord driving all over the roadway, on the shoulder and in the wrong lane of travel on Route 163 near Millstadt and attempted to make a traffic stop.

The vehicle accelerated and refused to stop, continuing onto Saeger Road, Triple Lakes Road, Wagner Road and Imbs Station Road in rural St. Clair County.

“The vehicle disobeyed all stop signs at intersections and continued driving completely into the wrong lane of travel,” St. Clair Sheriff’s Department Capt. Bruce Fleshren said.

The vehicle turned onto Mullins Road and quickly turned off the roadway into a field behind a tree line for a short time before turning back onto Mullins Road, and traveled through a field toward the levee. The vehicle was able to get through the mud and climb the levee and continue to flee.

The vehicle drove down the levee to Route 3 in Cahokia, where Cahokia and Dupo officers began to assist as the car continued fleeing on Route 3 and Interstate 255 southbound, police said.  Columbia police and Illinois State Police also assisted in the incident.

The car crossed through the center median and began to travel southbound in the northbound lanes of I-255.

“The car was traveling on the shoulder of the interstate while traveling in the wrong direction,” Fleshren said. “No police vehicles were driving in the wrong direction.”

The driver eventually lost control of his car and went into a ditch at the Route 3 and I-255 split in Columbia and was taken into custody by Cahokia officers.

Fortunately, there were no injuries or other accidents as a result of the incident.

On Monday, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Frankie W. Hook, 37, of Cahokia, with two counts of aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude police, one count of driving while license revoked, and one count of resisting arrest.

Bond was set at $75,000 and Hook remains in the St. Clair County Jail.

Hook has a history of traffic charges and prior arrests for fleeing and eluding. He was sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for fleeing and eluding in October 2016.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
Feb. 20
James D. Tutor, 41, of Columbia, was arrested on an in-state warrant and for driving while license suspended, no insurance and expired registration on Route 3 northbound at Palmer Road.

Anthony O. Onyango, 40, of Albers, was arrested for DUI, driving while license suspended and improper lane usage.

Feb. 24
Kenneth J. Newsom, 57, of St. Louis, was arrested at Moto Mart on a fugitive from justice warrant for fraud out of Missouri.

Monroe County Sheriff
Feb. 12
Jenna Kipping, 19, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant. 

Leonard E. Moody, 63, of Waterloo, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage on Route 3 near the YMCA.

Feb. 13
Robert Sorrells, 27, of Litchfield, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant for soliciting.

John Collins, 21, of Fenton, Mo., was arrested on a Monroe County probation violation stemming from a methamphetamine possession conviction.

An aggravated battery involving a 43-year-old male victim in the area of 6000 Old Red Bud Road is under investigation.

Jacob Grimm, 21, of Waterloo, was cited for improper use of an electronic device on Route 3.

Feb. 16
Tremaine Farmer, 31, of Belleville, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant on Route 3 near Midwest Block & Brick.

The theft of tools from a shed in the area of 4900 Beck Road is under investigation.

Feb. 19
Kyle Austin, 20, of Dupo, was issued a county ordinance violation for possession of cannabis on Bluff Road at Baer Road.

Feb. 21
Terri M. Ryan, 57, of Cahokia, was arrested for felony escape after she failed to report to the Monroe County Jail on Feb. 17 for required imprisonment. She was sentenced earlier this year to 180 days in jail for felony driving while license revoked (seventh offense).

The theft of items from a room for rent on First Street in Renault is under investigation.

Feb. 23
Gregory Fasnacht, 24, of Collinsville, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.

Feb. 24
Police and Monroe County EMS responded shortly after 12:45 a.m. to a pickup truck crash in the 4400 block of LL Road near Maus Road. A 1995 GMC Sierra driven by Stefan Bauer, 19, of Red Bud, lost control and went off the roadway. He refused medical transport at the scene.

An aggravated battery that occurred in the area of 6200 VV Road is under investigation.

Damage reported in the area of 3500 KK Road is under investigation. The front living room window was shattered and tires on two parked vehicles were slashed.

Feb. 27
An Illinois State Police crime scene unit assisted deputies in investigating burglaries to a shed and two box trailers along Route 159 south of Hecker.

Valmeyer Police
Feb. 20
Edward R. Brown, 31, of Waterloo, was cited for misdemeanor littering after allegedly disposing of three calf carcasses in a ditch along the roadway at 6433 D Road.

Waterloo Police
Feb. 20
Spencer L. Schmidt, 18, of Waterloo, was arrested on South Church Street for a Monroe County warrant stemming from an ordinance violation.

Feb. 22
State Bank of Waterloo reported receiving eight counterfeit $100 bills. The bills were brought in by a person who said they were paid the bills for performing work. The bills were turned over to U.S. Secret Service. 

Feb. 25
The theft of two scooters in the 300 block of North Library Street is under investigation. The scooters have since been returned to the owner.

Mark Carroll, 59, of Waterloo, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage on Route 3.

Feb. 27
An officer was called to Waterloo High School shortly after 10:45 a.m. for a student in possession of drugs.

Chief Jerry Paul

Traffic along the Route 3 corridor has been a frequent topic of discussion since vehicles started traveling the stretch of roadway, with speed, terrain and traffic control all hotly debated.

The topic reared again last week in the aftermath of the crash in Columbia on Admiral Parkway (Route 3) at Veterans Parkway that claimed the life of Emily Webb, a mother of six from Columbia.

Columbia Police Chief Jerry Paul spoke at Monday’s Columbia City Council meeting and took questions about traffic along the Columbia corridor of Route 3.

“As far as the traffic crash that occurred last Tuesday, that is something that is actively under investigation,” Paul said. “(Because) of that and because we haven’t presented anything to our state’s attorney, it’s something that I cannot comment directly on.”

IDOT estimates of traffic flow on Route 3 through Columbia range from 26,000 to almost 30,000 cars a day. And data Paul presented at the meeting gives a glimpse into what officers are up against. 

From October 2017 to March 5, 2018, there were 608 traffic stops resulting in 27 arrests, 195 citations, 546 written warnings, 82 verbal warnings, eight officer-initiated DUIs, and 20 citations for revoked, suspended or unlicensed drivers.

“Of the citations, 42 percent were for speeding,” he said. 

There were also 13 citations for disobeying a traffic control device.

In more longitudinal data, over the past 10 years, traffic crashes have increased by 16 citywide, from 250 in 2008 to 266 in 2017.

The Facebook group “Citizens Demanding Change on Illinois Route 3, Columbia, Illinois” has amassed nearly 4,000 members over the years. With some members from that group in attendance, Paul acknowledged he has read many of the concerns expressed on the page, and held discussions with several members who were in attendance at the meeting…>>>

Read the rest of this article in the March 7, 2018, issue of the Republic-Times newspaper.

If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.

Nicholas Schardan

A young man will serve prison time in connection with two battery incidents in Waterloo.

Nicholas J. Schardan, 19, of Waterloo,  was sentenced this week to two concurrent four-year prison terms in the Illinois Department of Corrections for felony aggravated battery.

Shortly after 1:50 a.m. Feb. 18, Schardan “struck and kicked” Harrison Russell in the 100 block of North Main Street, court information states. He was also charged with felony mob action for that incident since he was allegedly acting together with another man who has not yet been taken into custody. The mob action charge against Schardan was dismissed as part of sentencing negotiations.

Schardan was also charged with felony aggravated battery following a Feb. 10, 2017 incident during which he struck Michael Davis in the face with his fist at Family Video, 100 Plaza Drive.

The Waterloo Police Department investigated both battery cases.

Waren D. Collins Jr.

A young man was sentenced this week to six years in prison in connection with an armed robbery that occurred last summer near Columbia.

Waren D. Collins Jr., 20, of Belleville, was given credit for 236 days already served in jail.

The incident occurred July 13, 2017 at 9366 Litteken Lane in rural Columbia, and involved the sale of an iPhone arranged via the LetGo mobile classifieds app. For last year’s story on the incident, click here.

Court information states that Collins pulled a pistol on the victim at that location, stole the phone and drove away. Collins was taken into custody a short time later.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police

Feb. 27 – Christine M. Straub, 61, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI, improper lane usage and driving on the shoulder on I-255 westbound.

March 1 – Samantha G. Fina, 22, of Festus, Mo., was picked up on an arrest warrant for felony retail theft stemming from allegedly stealing more than $1,400 worth of merchandise from Midwest Petroleum, 1553 N. Main Street, over a period of several months.

March 2 – Joseph H. Defrancesco, 53, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and driving in the wrong lane on Admiral Parkway at Veterans Parkway.

March 3 – Alexandra M. Tucker, 25, of St. Louis, was arrested for possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia at 226 Southwoods Center. Also arrested was Bernard N. Johnson, 30, of St. Louis, arrested for unlawful use of weapon (brass knuckles) by a felon, possession of drug paraphernalia and on an in-state warrant.

March 3 –Sean W. O’Guin, 22, of Waterloo, was arrested for DUI at McDonald’s, 300 Columbia Centre.

Illinois State Police

March 5 – Morning rush hour traffic was backed up for miles following a three-vehicle crash that occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on Interstate 255 westbound at the Jefferson Barracks Bridge.Witness reports indicate a red car crossed the median, striking a black car and white pickup before hitting the guardrail. Injuries were believed to be minor in nature.

Millstadt Police

Feb. 28 – Klayton M. Skaer, 20, of Millstadt, was cited for unlawful consumption of alcohol on West Van Buren Street. 

Monroe County Sheriff

Feb. 26 – Corbin Turman 27, of St. Louis, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

March 1 – Kevin Spurlock, 46, of DuQuoin, was charged with two counts of residential burglary following recent incidents in the 3300 block of Trout Camp Road and 1100 Moore Road during which a wedding ring and prescription medications were stolen. He remains in the county jail with bond set at $100,000.

March 2 – A report of counterfeit bills spent at Back Street Wine & Dine in Hecker is under investigation.

March 2 – Austin Zimmerman, 26, of Collinsville, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

March 3 – Wayne A. Wetzler, 52, of Waterloo, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant.

Waterloo Police

Feb. 28 – Zachary A. Buckman, 20, of Waterloo, was arrested for possession of cannabis (more than 30 grams) at Mobil On the Run, 1000 N. Illinois Route 3.

March 1

A possible case of criminal sexual abuse on Debra Lane is under investigation.

March 3

Justin Harmon, 21, of St. Louis, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

A Belleville man was arrested early Monday morning in connection with an ATM break-in that occurred outside of a Columbia bank.

Police responded about 1 a.m. to an alarm sounding at Central Bank in the 200 block of Southwoods Center, with the responding officer observing a man attempting to steal cash from inside the bank’s ATM machine.

Nicholas Ganguillet, 29, of Belleville, was arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools and burglary, both felonies. He was transported to the Monroe County Jail in Waterloo.

A Red Bud man and a Lenzburg woman were both sentenced last week to federal prison for their roles in an area methamphetamine ring.

Jeremy J. Humphries, 33, of Red Bud, and Mandy L. Hagen, 30, of Lenzburg, previously pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

The indictment alleged that the offense occurred between 2015 and April 2017 in Perry, Randolph, Monroe, and St. Clair counties.

Humphries was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release and was fined $200.

Hagen was sentenced to seven years in prisom to be followed by four years of supervised release and was fined $200.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Humphries and Hagen were involved with each other and numerous other persons in the distribution of ice, which is a version of meth with a purity level of at least 80 percent.

At sentencing, the district court found that Humphries was responsible for the distribution of over 1.3 kilograms of ice. Humphries received an enhanced sentence based on his possession of a stolen SKS rifle during his drug involvement.

The district court determined Hagen was responsible for the distribution of 372 grams of ice. Evidence also established that Hagen had allowed meth to be manufactured at her apartment.

Co-defendants Jeremy Copple and Paige Gleghorn have previously received prison sentences of 14 years and 11.5 years, respectively, for their role in the meth conspiracy.

Five additional co-defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Drug Tactical Unit, Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois, Chester Police Department, Coulterville Police Department, Belleville Police Department, Lenzburg Police Department, Perry County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Randolph and Monroe County state’s attorney’s offices also assisted in the investigation.

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police
March 7 – Richard L. Carter, 41, homeless, was arrested on an in-state warrant for theft by deception.

March 7 – Emily M. Reeder, 19, of Dupo, was arrested on multiple in-state warrants on Route 3 at Gilmore Lake Road.

March 8 – Yasmeen Bonner, 25, of Troy, was arrested for DUI, improper lane usage and failure to signal on Route 3 at Veterans Parkway.

March 9 – Catherine I. Graves, 33, of St. Louis, was arrested for DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and improper stopping on the roadway on Southport Drive at Palmer Road.

March 11 – David W. Kostecki, 52, of Desoto, Mo., was arrested on a fugitive from justice out-of-state warrant and for no insurance on Route 3 at Palmer Road. Also arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant was Angela M. Guiffida, 35, of Hazelwood, Mo.

March 13 – Austin D. Zimmerman, 26, of Collinsville, was arrested for unlawful use of weapon (brass knuckles) on Route 3 at Gilmore Lake Road.

Millstadt Police
March 8 – David E. Atherton, 39, of St. Louis, was arrested on a Monroe County traffic warrant on West Washington Street at Main Street.

Monroe County Sheriff
March 5 – Christopher E. Brown, 33, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

March 6 – Jamiyea Simpson, 19, of Belleville, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

March 7 – Kyle Macklin, 27, of French Village, Mo., was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

March 8 – Joshua M. Ueltzen, 30, of High Ridge, Mo., was charged with possession of a controlled substance following a Nov. 29 incident.

March 9 – Charles W. Smith, 51, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant on Bluff Road at HH Road.

March 10 – Timothy T. Farr, 37, of St. Louis, was picked up on an arrest warrant for felony forgery in connection with an Oct. 13 incident during which a forged check in the amount of $1,910 was delivered to Regions Bank in Columbia.

March 10 – The theft of 1,000 pounds of metal from a scrap yard at 4510 Doyle Road is under investigation, with a possible suspect vehicle being a black van driven by a white male with a white female passenger.

March 13 – Emergency personnel responded about 2:35 p.m. to a rollover crash involving a grain truck on Levee Road near Outlet Road west of Maeystown. The driver, a man aged in his 70s, was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County.

Waterloo Police
March 1 – Mitchell Runzo, 20, of Waterloo, was issued a city ordinance violation for dog at large in the 300 block of West Mill Street.

March 5 – Nicolette D. Wilson, 43, of Waterloo, was arrested on a warrant for felony identity theft. Court information states she used the social security number of a relative to fraudulently obtain credit for a 2010 Nissan Maxima in November 2011.

March 9 – Christopher Monroe, 32, of Waterloo, was arrested for domestic battery following an incident that occurred in a vehicle on Rogers Street at First Street.

March 9 – Autumn Brooks, 33, of Waterloo, was cited for failure to provide information following a vehicle accident at Nice Twice  Resale Shop. 

March 9 – Tabitha Henson, 41, of Waterloo, was arrested for driving while license suspended, leaving the scene of an accident involving damage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and failure to provide information following an accident on Mahala Drive near Bradford Lane.

March 10 – James Gummersheimer, 65, of Columbia, was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol on Route 3 at Illinois Avenue.

March 11 – Adam Landgraf, 27, of Waterloo, was picked up on an arrest warrant for domestic battery following an incident that occurred Jan. 21.

March 12 – Casey J. Renard, 39, of Caseyville, was charged with felony theft in connection with a Dec. 18 incident in which he is alleged to have received a payment for $1,100 to complete driveway asphalt work without any intention of performing the job.

Illinois Department of Corrections photo of Jordan Kuykendall, who now goes by the name Sora Kuykendall.

A status hearing was held Wednesday morning in the Monroe County Courthouse regarding Jordan Kuykendall, who is serving a 40-year sentence at Menard Correctional Center in Chester for the 2013 stabbing death of former girlfriend and Columbia High School student Erin Schneider.

In November 2014, Kuykendall pleaded guilty but mentally ill to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison with the assurance he will receive mental health care while incarcerated.

Today, however, that very plea is being questioned as Kuykendall’s attorneys argue he was given a “substantial denial” of rights under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against “cruel and unusual punishment.” At the crux of the argument is that Kuykendall, who is transgender and now identifies as female, was not in a mental state to fully understand the consequences of the plea, due to the emotional stress of being transgender and also suffering from major depression and personality disorder.

Kuykendall’s attorneys seek a reduction of this 40-year negotiated sentence.

The state made a motion to dismiss the case, claiming Kuykendall fails to make a substantial showing of a constitutional violation and also failed to appeal the sentence within the required 30 days.

Kuykendall, who now goes by the first name Sora, has until May 2 to enter a response to that motion.

Kuykendall’s gender identity is also at the center of another legal action, being one of six Illinois inmates who are part of a class action suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against the Illinois Department of Corrections, Gov. Bruce Rauner and more, for “gross inadequacies in the medical treatment provided to prisoners with gender dysphoria,” according to a statement by ACLU Illinois.

For an ACLU news release on that filing, click here.

Read next week’s Republic-Times for more information.

Michael Stephens Jr.

Investigative work by the Waterloo Police Department proved instrumental in a case that resulted in an area man pleading guilty Thursday to federal child pornography charges.

Michael B. Stephens Jr., 43, of Red Bud, entered his guilty plea at the federal court in East St. Louis to two counts of production of child pornography. The charges stem from an investigation which revealed that in 2016, Stephens used cellular phones and tablets to record himself engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor female on at least 25 occasions.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Springfield Child Exploitation Task Force as well as the Waterloo Police Department.

Last summer, Waterloo police announced they had charged Stephens with felony aggravated sex abuse and urged the public to contact their department because they believed he may have preyed on young victims by trading tattoos for sexual favors.

On May 8, 2017, the Monroe County State’s Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Stephens on the felony sex charge.  Later that month, police arrested Stephens at a residence in New Athens.

With his federal conviction, Stephens faces a prison term of 15-60 years, a fine of up to $500,000, and a term of supervised release of five years to life. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

Stephens’ sentencing is set for 10 a.m. June 29 in East St. Louis.

Cody P. Atkins

A young local man was sentenced to prison this week on burglary and drug charges.

Cody P. Atkins, 21, of Columbia, was sentenced in Monroe County Circuit Court to two concurrent four-year prison terms in the Illinois Department of Corrections for felony burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

Court information states that in January 2017, Atkins stole items from unlocked vehicles on Forest View Drive and Bradington Drive in Columbia. For our earlier story on that incident, click here.

In 2016, Atkins was arrested for possession of alprazolam and cannabis.

As part of his sentence, Atkins was recommended for the state’s Impact Incarceration Program.

The Illinois Impact Incarceration Program, more commonly referred to as “boot camp,” is a program within the Illinois Department of Corrections that allows young offenders sentenced to prison the opportunity to reduce their sentence.

Columbia police are investigating and Columbia school officials have notified parents following comments made by a Columbia High School student that are being treated as threats.

“Columbia High School administration was alerted of a social media post and comments made by a student that are considered threatening. (CHS principal Brian) Reeves has taken appropriate disciplinary measures to address this matter and has reported the incident to the Columbia Police Department for further investigation,” Columbia school superintendent Dr. Gina Segobiano stated in an email to parents of CHS students early Monday afternoon. “Please be assured that all students are safe and secure at Columbia High School.”

Segobiano assured parents that all threats to Columbia schools and students are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

“We continue to stress the concept of ‘See Something, Say Something!’ We again ask that you discuss this with your child and emphasize the importance of reporting any comments, posts, pictures, etc. that are dark or violent in nature,” she said, adding that the “administration at Columbia High School has exercised extreme diligence and taken all proper actions required by law and in the best interests of our students and faculty.”

Columbia Police Chief Jerry Paul said CHS administration notified his department Wednesday afternoon of “inappropriate comments” allegedly made by a student.

“Investigators have been working closely with Columbia High School and district administrative staff to thoroughly investigate,” Paul stated in a news release. “The Monroe County State’s Attorney has been informed of the investigation and will be asked to review all information.”

(Editor’s note: Information in this report is gathered directly from area police agencies, county courts and emergency radio dispatch. The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty and charges may sometimes be dropped or reduced as part of the legal process.)

Columbia Police

March 13

Jeffrey B. Womack Jr., 30, of Imperial, Mo., was arrested on a fugitive from justice warrant at 209 N. Metter Avenue.

Gary V. Horsely II, 44, of Belleville, was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage on Admiral Parkway at North Main Street.

March 14

Robert A. Condor, 58, of Red Bud, was arrested on a Randolph County warrant on southbound Admiral Parkway.

March 15

Emergency personnel responded about 8:40 p.m. to a two-car crash on Admiral Parkway at Veterans Parkway. A 2002 Mercury Sable driven by Kenneth Spisak IV, 19, of Dupo, and a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Haley Goodfellow, 23, of Columbia, were the vehicles involved in the crash. None of those involved required medical transport. Spisak was cited for defective brakes.

March 16

Lamar D. Adams, 30, and Michael R. Johnson, 36, both of St. Louis, were each cited for illegal transportation of alcohol at 1331 Frontage Road. Adams was also arrested on an in-state warrant and for possession of cannabis, improper backing and no insurance.

March 17

Columbia police are investigating the theft of four wheels from a vehicle on the lower lot at Royal Gate Dodge. Four tires from a Chrysler 300 were missing. It appeared there may have also been an attempted theft of wheels from a 2018 Dodge Ram parked near the Chrysler. Similar thefts were reported at Royal Gate and other local auto dealerships earlier this year.

Pierce A. Hutson, 29, of Columbia, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant at Midwest Petroleum, 1553 N. Main Street.

Monroe County Sheriff

March 13

Emergency personnel responded about 2:35 p.m. to a rollover crash involving a grain truck on Levee Road south of Outlet Road. Police said Ellery Hawkins, 77, of Waterloo, was driving a 2014 Caterpillar southeast on Levee Road when it lost control and overturned down the levee. He was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County.

March 15

Steven Fry, 44, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant stemming from an ordinance violation.

March 16

Jacob Chartrand, 25, of East Carondelet, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

March 17

Sharon Braun, 64, of Red Bud, was arrested for driving while license suspended and improper use of electronic device on Route 159 south of Hecker.

March 18

Moriah Jarrett, 23, of Marissa, was issued county ordinance violations for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia on Steppig Road at Bluff Road.

Deonte Buntyn, 27, of Madison, was arrested on a Monroe County warrant.

Waterloo Police

March 14

Summit Ruhmann, 21, of Waterloo, was picked up on an arrest warrant for aggravated battery and mob action, both felonies, stemming from a Feb. 18 incident that occurred in the 100 block of North Main Street.

 March 15

Joseph Rodriguez, 27, of Belleville, was arrested for DUI in the parking lot of Taco Bell, 918 N. Market Street.

March 16

James Rhyne, 37, of Waterloo, was arrested on two counts of domestic battery and for criminal damage to property, that being a 2017 GMC Yukon, at 1223 Remington Road.

March 17

Jason M. Jones, 37, of Waterloo, was arrested on a St. Clair County warrant for battery.

March 18

Jacob Schrader-Morss, 19, of Belleville, was arrested on a St. Clair County traffic warrant.

March 19

Ashley Dickerson, 26, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Monroe County failure to appear warrant.

Sora Kuykendall

A status hearing was held last Wednesday morning at the Monroe County Courthouse regarding Jordan Kuykendall, who is serving a 40-year sentence at Menard Correctional Center in Chester for the June 27, 2013, stabbing death of former girlfriend and Columbia High School student Erin Schneider.

Schneider, 17, had an order of protection against Kuykendall that was scheduled to expire the afternoon of the murder.

In November 2014, Kuykendall, who was 21 at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison with the assurance mental health care would be provided while incarcerated.

Now, however, that very plea, which was negotiated with now-retired Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz, is under scrutiny as Kuykendall’s attorneys argue there was a “substantial denial” of rights under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against “cruel and unusual punishment.”

At the crux of the argument is that Kuykendall, who is transgender and now identifies as a female named Sora, was not in a mental state to fully understand the consequences of her plea due to the emotional stress of being transgender as well as suffering from major depression and personality disorder.

Immediately following the stabbing, Kuykendall got into her car and drove it head-on into a Hummer traveling westbound on Route 158. The driver of the Hummer was not seriously injured, but Kuykendall was airlifted from the scene…>>>

Read the rest of this article in the March 28, 2018, issue of the Republic-Times newspaper.

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Edwin “Beanie” Esker

A lengthy investigation into the officer-involved shooting death of 53-year-old Edwin “Beanie” Esker during a domestic dispute near Maeystown the evening of July 5 has concluded without charges filed.

Police said an intoxicated and “wide-eyed, teeth-clenched” Esker approached an arriving Monroe County Sheriff’s Department deputy with a running chainsaw and continued to advance despite repeated verbal commands to stop, after which the deputy fatally shot Esker three times.

“I have fully reviewed the thorough investigation performed by the Illinois State Police and have concluded that the use of deadly force… was fully lawful, reasonable and justified,” Monroe County State’s Attorney Chris Hitzemann stated in a Jan. 26 email to parties involved in the investigation that was obtained by the Republic-Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The name of the deputy was redacted from FOIA documents due to being classified as a victim in this case, Monroe County FOIA officer Mike Origliosso told the Republic-Times.

Hitzemann cited Chapter 720, Act 5, Section 7-5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, which governs use of force by a police officer, emphasizing the sentence that states an officer is “justified in using force likely to cause death or great bodily harm only when he reasonably believes force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or such other person…>>>

Read the rest of this article in the March 28, 2018, issue of the Republic-Times newspaper.

If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.

It starts with a robocall claiming the person on the other end has won a free cruise, or with someone calling an unsuspecting senior citizen pretending to be a grandchild.

Before these victims know what hit them, they’re out thousands of dollars, left wondering whether they’re going to see that money again. 

Waterloo Deputy Police Chief Jeff Prosise knows too well about the scams making victims out of local residents.

From January 2017 to present, more than $32,000 in losses from various phone and internet scams has been reported to the Waterloo Police Department. The department works diligently to investigate and recover the missing funds but Prosise is tired of seeing people in the community become victims.

“I think it’s good that we’re putting it out there. I hate to see people becoming victims like this,” he said. 

In total, Prosise said the $32,000 lost comes from four different scams. One is a sweepstakes scam where the person believes they have won some sort of prize. 

According to the caller, which is sometimes an automated message, the winner must send money for taxes before claiming the prize. 

The Federal Trade Commission warns that paying to collect a prize is a sure sign of a scam. Five residents fell into this trap for a total of $23,225, Prosise recalled.

A second scam reported in the past year involved the classified ads website Craigslist, which allows for help wanted, for sale and other types of posts. Prosise said the person being scammed will have a posting for an item they wish to sell.

The scammer, posing as an interested buyer, will give the seller a fake check or fake money order for the item. A total of three Waterloo residents lost $5,290 from such a scam.

In a Craigslist report on how to avoid scams, it states to never accept cashier/certified checks or money orders in any transaction.

“Banks cash fakes, then hold you responsible,” the report reads.

Prosise said, while a few have succumbed to these scams, he has also had a lot of residents display caution.

“We have had several who come in and say, ‘Hey, I received a check and never cashed it,” he said.

The third scam Prosise mentioned centers on a specific demographic as its target. According to Prosise, the scam that he dubbed “the grandparent scam,” starts with someone calling a senior citizen to convince the elder that he is his grandchild. 

The scammer then tells his “grandparent” that he needs money to get bailed out of jail or to get out of some kind of trouble. For this scam, three Waterloo residents were scammed for a total of $2,200.

“They’ll call and say, ‘Grandma, do you know who this is?’ And the person will respond, ‘Emily?’ And they’ll say, ‘Yeah, it’s me. I need money,’” Prosise explained. “The scammers call younger people, too, but they just hang up because it’s like, ‘Grandpa, what the heck are you talking about?’”

The fourth and final scam cost one resident $1,600, and is what Prosise refers to as a “medical bill scam.” Prosise said the victim receives a call explaining they will be arrested if they don’t pay overdue medical bills.

Similar to this, a scam that has received nationwide attention involves a person pretending to be with the Internal Revenue Service and telling the victim they owe money for taxes. The IRS states that it will not:

• Call to demand immediate payment

• Demand someone pay taxes and not allow the amount to be questioned

• Require taxes be paid a certain way, such as with a prepaid debit card

• Ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone

• Threaten to bring in law enforcement to arrest the person for not paying

In addition to helping residents stay vigilant in avoiding scams, the WPD also sent officer Dave Midkiff to a training seminar on how to investigate these scams, such as locating IP addresses and sending out subpoenas. 

The training also provided Midkiff with four tips for avoiding scams involving a sale or purchase:

• Never deal with someone who refuses to meet in person

• Never deal with someone who won’t talk on the phone

• Never deal with someone who won’t pay cash

•Never deal with someone who wants to pay in advance 

To aid the seniors in the community in avoiding scams, WPD officer Scott Spencer continues to lead a Senior Police Academy in the fall. 

He also has started a program in which he goes to the senior living facilities in the area to share his knowledge of avoiding scams. In order to provide the service, Spencer received 40 hours of training.

“We thought, ‘There’s a population we can hit right away and get the word out there,’” Prosise said of the senior population.

In the end, Prosise said there’s no guarantee the person scammed will get his money back, emphasizing the importance of learning how to avoid these schemes in the first place.

A photograph of Chris Coleman kissing his mistress, Tara Lintz, that was admitted as evidence during Coleman’s 2011 murder trial.

A murder case that captivated the entire region and brought national attention to Monroe County seems like ages ago.

But the central figure in that case has had nothing but time to dwell on every minor detail of his trial. Now, nearly seven years after his conviction, Christopher Coleman is hoping for a return to the Monroe County Courthouse and a new trial.

“This is for real. We’re not going through the motions here,” Coleman’s court-appointed defense attorney Lloyd Cueto of Belleville told the Republic-Times. “I think Chris is entitled to a new trial.”

At issue in a petition for post-conviction relief filed Tuesday afternoon are photographs of Coleman with his mistress and whether jurors viewed that evidence as directed during their deliberation, which ultimately resulted in a guilty verdict.

Read the full story in the April 4 print issue of the Republic-Times newspaper.

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