SESSER, Ill. - On Tuesday (November 22), Scott L. Thompson, 45, of Sesser, was sentenced in federal court in Benton, Illinois, on his bankruptcy fraud conviction, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced today.

The court sentenced Thompson to one year of probation and ordered him to pay a fine and special assessment totaling $800. Thompson was indicted on February 2, 2016, as part of an effort to crackdown on those who commit fraud during the course of bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

The indictment charged Thompson with concealing assets in a bankruptcy case. When he pled guilty on June 15, 2016, Thompson admitted that he concealed from the Bankruptcy Court a $28,129 settlement he received for a worker’s compensation claim. Thompson also admitted that he concealed from the Bankruptcy Court his federal tax returns and failed to disclose those tax returns, as the Bankruptcy Court had ordered. Thompson’s chapter 13 bankruptcy case was filed and litigated in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Benton, Illinois.

The charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee and the investigation was conducted by agents from the Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) with assistance from members of the Southern District of Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.

Charla Beth Sullivan

WHITE CO., Ill. - One of the three individuals nabbed in a burglary at the home of a deceased man while the family was at the funeral has entered a plea in the crime.

Charla Beth Sullivan, 40, of Carmi, was sentenced today in White County for the Class 3 felony Theft charge she caught back in the summer.

White County State's Attorney Denton Aud said Sullivan pleaded guilty to the charged offense of Theft for exerting unauthorized control over property of Donna Matz, being a jewelry with a value in excess of $500. Sullivan is one of the individuals originally charged in regards to the burglary and theft of the Matz residence while Donna Matz and her family were at the funeral of her husband and well-known Carmi businessman, the late Hank Matz.

Sullivan did what is called an "open plea" of guilty which is where she pleads guilty without knowing what the sentence will be. A sentencing hearing has been set for January 23, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. At this sentencing hearing, evidence in aggravation and mitigation can be presented to the judge with the attorneys making arguments for what they believe is an appropriate sentence. Ultimately, the judge will decide as to the appropriate sentence to impose. A Class 3 felony can result in a sentence of anywhere between 2-5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections or of the defendant being placed on probation or conditional discharge up to a total of 30 months.

Judge T. Scott Webb will be the sentencing judge. State's Attorney Denton Aud represents the State of Illinois. Sullivan is represented by Attorney Roger White. The White County Sheriff's Department was the agency that successfully investigated the case.

Joshua Arnold

WHITE CO., Ill. - A man from Benton was sentenced yesterday in White County Circuit Court in his Carmi Burglary case.

White County State's Attorney Denton Aud said that Joshua N. Arnold, 32, of Benton, was settled with a plea to the Class 2 felony Burglary which occurred in late August.

In exchange for the plea Arnold got 5 years DOC to be followed by 2 years MSR (mandatory supervised release, aka parole). Costs and restitution were ordered to be paid, in the amount of $2,369, none of which have been paid.

This case was successfully investigated by the Carmi Police Department and White County Sheriff's Department.

OLNEY, Ill. - Information is scant right now, but Olney Police are investigating a child homicide in the middle of town after the body of an eight-year-old female was found not far from the vinegar plant last night in the part of town known as Goosenibble.

According to our people on the ground there, the little girl's body was found specifically near JS Legacy Trucking (CORRECTED), the business taken from now-convicted DJ Thacker and owned by Thacker's philandering wife Stacey Stevens and her new husband, Jeff Cowman; how far from the vinegar plant building this business is, we don't have right now. However, after the body was found last night (Wednesday, November 23, at about 5 p.m.), all employees of the trucking company were reportedly called back and questioned.

According to reports, the child, whose name we have but which we're holding for the moment, had been severely injured in come way; her murder is being termed by authorities as "brutal."

Our sources in Olney tell us the child had gone missing on when waiting for a church bus for Wednesday night services; she was ostensibly reported missing, however, we've not been made aware of ANY missing persons reports. Supposedly, the missing person report was made to Illinois State Police, but we've seen nothing.

Whatever the case, OPD is handling it, but ISP's Child Death Task Force, on which formerly-indicted "special agent" Rick White has in the past sat, is involved...and that, we're hearing, is causing some controversy, since White has a tendency to leak information to his "favored" media people and which often compromises investigations.

The fact that two outlets White favors - WFIW, where his buddy Len Wells operates, and the Belleville News Democrat, who has nothing to do with this side of the state unless White suggests it to them - already had the material this morning, is fairly indicative of White's involvement.

Family of the little girl might do well to demand White be excused from the case if he is indeed involved, as his competence has come under question with the past several serious cases he's worked.

When we learn more, we'll post. Keep watching, because mainstream media isn't going to dig into this; if you want what's real, as well as what's wrong with things in southern Illinois that a case such as this can be mishandled, read us...because we're not afraid of anyone or anything and will cut through the crap to bring you the truth, not cling to the "authorities" and regurgitate the pablum.

WAYNE CO., Ill. - A recreational vehicle-driver and his passengers were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after an Interstate 64 accident prompted by rain.

Illinois State Police who worked the crash said it occurred at 12:28 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday, November 23).

At that time, the driver of a Georgia RV, Roger D. Crain, 74, of Clay, New York, was westbound on Interstate 64 near milepost 106, when he lost control of his vehicle while driving in heavy rain. The RV was pulling a red 1993 Jeep Cherokee.

The vehicle left the roadway and struck several trees, before overturning.

The front seat passenger, Peter A. Mentz, 59, of Centennial, Colorado, and a rear passenger, Bruce E. Bresadola, 69, of Liverpool, New York, were ejected from the vehicle.

Crain, Mentz and Bresadola were transported by the Wayne County Ambulance Service to an area hospital. The vehicles were towed from the crash scene.

ISP District 19 were assisted at the crash scene by the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, Wayne County Ambulance Service and the Wayne City Fire Department.

Crain was cited for Driving Too Fast for Conditions and Failure to Wear a Seatbelt; Mentz and Bresadola were cited for Failure to Wear a Seatbelt.

OLNEY, Ill. - There's a subreddit thread that's been called to our attention that's pretty interesting.

The thread is called "Move to Olney Illinois if you want to get away with murder." And it's reflective of what we've posted in the past, such as the situation with Joe Galyean, wherein we posted about other "unsolved" deaths in Olney.

Unfortunately for the reddit crew, most of the post could be considered libelous by those who've not been charged in the crimes, so we're not reposting it in full here, so as not to open ourselves up to any liability. However, the deaths covered are those of Jaimee Rupe and Ryion Ippolito (2004); Ethan Hackney (2011); Ed Hataway (2012); Doris Muhs (2013) and Joe Galyean (2014).

There is no mention of the most recent city of Olney homicide, that of the little girl ostensibly reported missing Wednesday evening, Sabrina Stauffenberg, age 8. Why authorities haven't released her name when it's all over social media is beyond us, but here it is.

Ed Hataway

Joe Galyean

The only two of those featured in the subreddit thread that were officially called "homicides" are Hataway and Galyean. As a side note, there is no statute of limitations on murder. The people responsible for a murder can be charged at any time, no matter who's in office or how long it's been, no matter where they are, no matter who's in office.

Please visit the subreddit thread before it disappears (as these things have a tendency to do); we've screencapped it for posterity. You probably should, too. Then if you really want something "done" about this nightmare in Olney, don't bother with the locals. You need to contact your representatives and our governor. The ways these cases are handled have been atrocities. The lack of care shown for children in Illinois is worse. If our legislators are really concerned about the welfare of children, they'll start enacting laws that are on the books; and if those laws are flawed, they need CHANGED. This is what our legislators are for. Please contact them with your concerns; it's the only way to save children in the future.

Sabrina Stauffenberg

OLNEY, Ill. - At shortly before 4 p.m. today, the house at 823 South Whittle in Olney, from which Sabrina Stauffenberg disappeared shortly before she was found murdered Wednesday, was the subject of heavy police presence.

Our sources are telling us that the house, which is reportedly the residence of Margie Vaughn, is being "raided," meaning that likely a search warrant is being executed.

We are hearing that there are approximately eight law enforcement vehicles there, belonging to city, county and state.

We are also hearing that there are two individuals in custody regarding the death of Stauffenberg, but that has NOT been confirmed by officials yet. We do have names, but will not be releasing them until authorities advise that we can.

Please mark a tab on your computer or device and stay up with us as we cover this. Photos are on their way.

In the wake of an ongoing homicide investigation into the death of 8-year-old Sabrina Stauffenberg, and little-to-no word coming from authorities as to whether or not someone is in custody, do you have concerns about going to the lighted Christmas parade in Olney tonight?

Glenn "Hillbilly" Ramey

RICHLAND CO., Ill. - Authorities in Richland County have confirmed this morning that a suspect is in custody in the death of an Olney girl.

We've had it confirmed that Glenn Ramey, 53, of Olney, was taken into custody this morning; he is charged with First Degree Murder and Predatory Sexual Assault.

Eight-year-old Sabrina Stauffenberg was found deceased in the Goosenibble area of Olney Wednesday evening. Law enforcement officials have been working diligently since that time, interviewing several people.

Please be watching for any updates by marking this page, selecting an RSS feed or watching our social networking pages.

Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon, who apparently thinks he's some kind of cornpone Casonova...

MARION CO., Ill. - Too bad the election is over.

Some people in some southern Illinois locales usually don't find out how incompetent their public officials are until right AFTER the election, when they're faced with four more years of them in charge.

Take Marion County, as an example.

They could have stayed low on the radar; they could have had bumbling Matt Wilzbach continuing as their state's attorney, but he decided not to run this year (a decision which unfortunately had nothing to do with the nightmare a Centralia woman, Shirlena Barnes, is facing). And they could have elected someone who doesn't have a documented substance abuse problem to fill Wilzbach's seat, but they didn't (see also this link and this link).

And now, another Marion County public official who likely was only re-elected November 8 because he had an "R" next to his name has shown not only his potential incompetence, but utter incomprehension of what's going on around him.

In the big thread that's going on at the Facebook page right now - that of the arrest and charging of Glenn "Hillbilly" Ramey in the sexual assault and death of 8-year-old Sabrina Stauffenber in Olneyg, with 55,000+ views as of this writing - Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon inexplicably popped up early in the proceedings and started ragging us about what we believed was the article submitted early today about Ramey's arrest.

Not willing to put up with it (because that just starts problems; plus, there are ground rules at the "about" on our Facebook page and he violated nearly all of them with one comment), we just deleted his tripe and, in order to keep order (because these things get chaotic), we also sought out and deleted as many of the six misguided individuals who "liked" his idiotic comment as we could. I didn't screencap the comment because we're a little busy (as you can imagine). But apparently pissy Troy took to his own page (which he should have kept to; remember, don't get on the radar, and you won't call attention to yourself...you have the right to your opinion ON YOUR OWN PAGE) and posted the following, as sent to us in this screencap:

Hit this link to see the article he's griping about. It's got well over 20,000 shares right now (about three times that in views); maybe that's what he's so upset about, who knows. But at the point of posting, he posted under the big thread from today, not this one from the other day as shown in the above partial screencap. So that was the first thing that threw us off, and prompted this response from me:

That's gotten a lot of responses:

Because he was A - out of place with his comment and B - a little bit obtuse there. Don't you think? I mean, I know he thought he was posting in the right thread, but he wasn't. He was ragging about the initial article, over which we didn't receive a presser til many many hours after, and we said that. So he was way, WAY off base...and that's a concern about his mental functioning.

But here's the OTHER thing that's prompting concern.

Mr. Cannon there, who has been a moroner...er, I mean, coroner, for a while, and from what we've been apprised of, also has been a law enforcement officer of some sort, as well as a member of some branch of the military, apparently is unfamiliar with guns.

Note this part:

Now you and I both know that he meant "FIRST" Amendment, not SECOND. But that's because you're a regular reader, which makes you intelligent; he's preaching to fellow morons, here, and they may not know it. And if there's anything that calls a person's level of comprehension into question, it'd be the fact that that person can get elected to a position of public office and not know much about our Constitution.

Further, this particular Marcher, Cannon, is now making what appears to be threats:

Charming.

Sadly, his acolytes appear to have less reading comprehension and mental acumen than he does; naturally, they're already starting the drumbeat of "fake news" and "making reports about it" ad nauseum. And so yes, you're front and center, Troy. And do you know why?

Because southern Illinois - and indeed the entire country, but we in So. Ill. are particularly awash in it - are being suffocated by people on the taxpayers' dime who shouldn't be there. They can't seem to stick to doing their jobs, and seem to want to advance their agendas through their elected/appointed offices to the detriment of the taxpayers. Take Rick White, as an example. No, we did NOT take out any personal vendetta against Pricky in that article; we told FACTS - that Rick White is an out-of-control employee of the state who needs removed from his position before more innocent people are hurt by his vendettas and more serious cases are permanently botched. We also noted that we don't know if White is in charge of the investigation of Sabrina Stauffenberg's death, but if he is, expect more of the same. And as to the reference to Thackers...apparently the moron factor is firmly in place, as all it would've taken would've been a little bit of hitting the active links to see that the entire Thacker-Stevens-Cowman thing has also been an egregious expenditure of our taxpayer dollars in a number of counties, all because someone decided he was going to steal grain and his philandering wife (proven) lied about it.

All of Troy's Marchers claim they "don't read" us...but they all know who we are. At least, 20,000 people do, off the link he posted...which may have been what generated some of that interest. And his ongoing harassment of us is continuing it...which means it isn't harassment at all; it's coin.

But the biggest problem is that Marion County has an elected official who would make such an ass of himself - and put himself on radar - in this manner. What's his gripe? What does he care? Does he have a vested interest in this? I believe the answer is another question - who knows?

What we do know is that this is the level to which public officials have sunk in this state. And if this is what we have - public officials without decorum, without common sense, without the basic understanding of what the amendments of our Constitution are about - then we're in trouble. And we have quite a while until the next election so that we can rid ourselves of them and find suitable replacements.

I can't even believe I'm posting this.

However, it's been brought to our attention that a woman featured in a reality-TV series, "Hoarders," about five years back happens to be the mother of the guy who's in custody tonight for the sexual assault and death of an Olney child, Glenn Ramey.

She was called "Hannah from Vienna" and indeed, Ramey has a history in the areas of deep southern Illinois and the area of Pope and possibly Johnson counties. Whether the two are actually biological mom-and-son remains unconfirmed as of tonight, but everyone's sending this to us, so we thought we'd share. If you have an online membership, you can view the full episode at this link. The below vid is on YouTube and apparently shows excerpts of it.

Gads.

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CLAY CO., Ill. - Apparently, Clay County is still the place to go if you have an outstanding warrant out of downstate counties.

The sheriff's report released today by Sheriff Andy Myers shows this and more, in this time period covering his department's activities for the past weekend, November 25-28.

On Nov. 25, George T. Grove, 39, Olney, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant on four(4) counts of Violation of Order of Protection. Bond set at $7,500.00 (10 percent). He posted bond and was released.

Also Nov. 25, the Clay County Sheriff's Office received a report of a motor vehicle accident at 6:32 p.m. at the 800 Block of South Stanford Road. Apparently Sausha McCormick, 25, Rinard, operating a 2006 Toyota was traveling south on South Stanford Road when she met a northbound 1998 Dodge Utility operated by Michael Keyser, 18, Cisne, and both vehicles struck each other. No injuries were reported.

On Nov. 26, Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Timothy Canady, 29, Clay City, for Driving While Driver's License Suspended and Speeding. He was given a Notice to Appear and released.

Also on Nov. 26 was the service of the aforementioned Franklin County warrant, when Clay County Sheriff's Deputy arrested Ashley Flowers, 29, Christopher, on an outstanding Franklin County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Retail Theft. Bond set at $3,000.00 (10 percent), plus $75.00 warrant fee. She posted bond and was released.

On Nov. 27, Katrina Maxwell, 22, Vandalia, was arrested on an outstanding Clay County warrant for Failure to Appear on the original charge of Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid and Accident. Bond set at $2,500.00 (10 percent), plus $75.00 warrant fee. She posted bond and was released.

RICHLAND CO., Ill. - The special county board meeting of the Richland County Board called for tomorrow night has had a venue change.

Alice Mullinax, Richland County Clerk, has advised that the meeting won't be held at the regular location - the county board room at the county's detention center - but instead will be held in the third floor courtroom of the Richland County Courthouse.

The board is meeting to finalize the 2017 county budget.

It's scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Glenn Ramey

RICHLAND CO., Ill. - Formal charges against Glenn Ramey were filed today in Richland County Circuit Court.

The charges read that Ramey is accused of committing the offense of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child in that on or about November 23, 2016, in the 200 block of West South Avenue, Olney, Ramey, being 17 years of age or older, committed an act of sexual penetration with S.S., who was under 13 years of age when the act was committed, in that he placed his penis in the vagina of S.S. and that in so doing, Ramey caused great bodily harm to S.S. that was life-threatening.

Then he's charged with committing the offense of First Degree Murder in that on the same day and at the same location, Ramey knowingly and without lawful justification and with the intent to kill S.S., suffocated S.S., thereby causing her death.

S.S. is 8-year-old Sabrina Stauffenberg, who disappeared from her home that afternoon and whose body was found in a location just north of Legacy Trucking in a weedy area, north of the Vinegar Plant in the are of Olney known as Goosenibble.

The sex assault charge is a Class X felony and requires a term of imprisonment of not less than 6 years and not more than 60 years if convicted. The First Degree Murder charge is a Class M felony, meaning that it is non-probationable. A term of imprisonment can have differing ranges based upon mitigation and aggravation, but there is no death penalty in the state of Illinois.

This is the first we've learned of how Sabrina died. There is no mention of any stabbing, head-bashed-in, or any other bodily harm; just suffocation, and then there is the matter of the life-threatening sexual assault allegation. Certainly we'll learn more at trial, but it's uncertain when that will be. We're not seeing any court setting being made yet regarding first advisement of charges or a preliminary hearing.

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FLORA, Ill. – Apparently the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend following made an impression on folks in the city of Flora; the police report is a slim one so only a few people allegedly misbehaved.

And the first report involved some boys from up north a ways; specifically, Jasper and Cumberland counties.

This would be what happened on Wednesday, November 23 at 9:07 pm, when Flora Police arrested Gunner McMechan, 19, of Greenup and Nathan Carter, 18, of Hidalgo for Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, following a traffic stop in the 800 block of East North Avenue. McMechan and Carter where transported to Flora Police Department for booking procedures and released with a Notice to Appear.

On Friday, November 25 at 11:46 pm, Flora Police arrested Scott Robinson, 25, of Flora for Unlawful Use of a Firearm and Possession of Controlled Substance, following an incident in the 100 block of East North Avenue. Robinson was transported to Flora Police Department for booking procedures before being transferred to custody of Clay County Sheriff’s Department.

And then in the last incident in the report, on Saturday, November 26 at 1:52 am, Jeffrey Eikenhorst, 50, of Flora was arrested by Flora Police for Domestic Battery, following an incident in the 700 block of West Street. Eikenhorst underwent booking procedures at Flora Police Department and was then transported to Clay County Jail.

Glenn Ramey, emerging from the jury room area of the Richland County Courthouse in Olney on Tuesday, November 29, after a first advisement of charges.

RICHLAND CO., Ill. - The man accused of sexually assaulting and murdering an Olney girl on November 23 faced a judge in Richland County this afternoon to hear charges against him.

Glenn R. Ramey, 53, of Olney, clad in gray-striped jail togs and socks with sandals, sat alone at the defense table with his wrists and ankles shackled for a 15-minute hearing in which the charges against him were read by Judge Larry Dunn.

Ramey, who before taking up residence in a trailer court in Olney had been living a rather transient life on the backs of the taxpayers (via several state agencies), has been charged with two very serious counts in the death of Sabrina Stauffenberg, age 8, also of Olney: Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, a Class X felony, and a single Class M count of First Degree Murder, which carries with it a mandatory prison sentence if convicted.

When the details of the First Degree Murder charge were formally read to Ramey, members of Stauffenberg's family, nearly a dozen of whom were attending the hearing, were sobbing and sniffling audibly. That turned into much louder cries of anguish, however, when the details of the Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, the second to be addressed, were read.

The horror the family was undergoing was obvious and cannot be overstated; victim impact coordinators from State's Attorney Brad Vaughn's office were present and trying to console the family.

Ramey, however, sat silent at the defense table, barely moving except to shift his wrist shackles and try to keep his seat in the chair, where he was hunched against the glares of not only the family, but a host of media and a handful of deputies positioned strategically in the courtroom so that if anyone were to jump the gate to the defense table, the deputies would be able to intercept them.

That, fortunately, didn't happen. In fact, not much did. Ramey heard his charges and the possible sentencing ranges for both of them, and had it explained to him how he would be appointed counsel if he couldn't afford one. He said he could not, and Public Defender Jim Lane, who was in the courtroom today, was appointed.

Dunn then asked Ramey if he had any questions.

"So everybody done made up their mind?" Ramey said in what can only be described as a pissed-off drawl.

Dunn carefully explained that that definitely wasn't the case.

"No," he told Ramey. "I'm explaining to you how that's not true, when I told you that you were innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

Dunn was very patient but it's unclear as to whether Ramey is able to comprehend most of what he was told. He seemed quite resigned and, by the look of his demeanor and posture in the courtroom as well as when leaving the courtroom, somewhat aggravated at the proceedings.

He is being held on a million-dollar cash bond.

We are publishing a special edition next week to feature all the details we're learning about this case...and they are legion. Be looking for announcements as to when deliveries will be. Hit this link to sign up for the e-Edition if you'd prefer to read about it here on your computer or phone when it hits the site Monday evening.

OLNEY, Ill. - The candlelight vigil scheduled for Sabrina Stauffenberg last night, then rescheduled to tonight because of yesterday's downpours, was well-attended in Olney this evening.

The vigil was held on the lawn around the Garden of Hope memorial at Musgrove Park in Olney. It began at 6 p.m. and continued til 7.

Several hundred people were in attendance, according to our reporter present.

The vigil was very moving. Children who had known Sabrina spoke about her, as well as her pastor at the church she attended, and Ken Schanda, a former guardian.

Here are some pics from our reporter.

The man accused of Sabrina's murder, Glenn Ramey, was in court for the first time today. He's set for a preliminary hearing on December 16 at the Richland County Courthouse in Olney. He is charged with Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault and a single count of First Degree Murder; he's being held on a million dollar cash bond.

We are producing a special edition next week specifically and exclusively about this subject. It'll be on stands December 6 and 7. Please be watching for delivery announcements. You're not going to want to miss this issue. Get your subscription lined out right now if you haven't already. And THANKS FOR READING.

MICHAEL BASSMEMIER

WHITE CO., Ill. - White County State's Attorney Denton Aud has announce another plea in his courtroom, as negotiated with one of the suspects in the Matz burglary dating back to August.

Michael R. Bassemier, 49, of Carmi, entered an open plea of guilty to a Class 2 felony Burglary charge in the case; Aud said that a Class 3 felony charge of Theft was dismissed per the open plea.

Bassemier is one of the individuals originally charged in regards to the burglary and theft of the Matz residence while Donna Matz and her family were at the funeral of her husband, local businessman Hank Matz, who died in a car crash the previous week.

Bassemier had originally been charged with a Class 3 felony offense of Theft for being in possession of stolen property; however, Bassemier did what is called an "open plea" of guilty to an added charge of Burglary, a Class 2 felony. An "open plea" of guilty is where the defendant pleads guilty without knowing what the sentence will be. A sentencing hearing has been set for January 30, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.

At this sentencing hearing, evidence in aggravation and mitigation can be presented to the judge, victims and other witnesses can testify, and the attorneys make arguments for what they believe is an appropriate sentence. Ultimately, the judge decides as to what sentence to impose. Under Illinois law, a Class 2 felony can result in a sentence of anywhere between 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections or of the defendant being placed on probation or conditional discharge up to a total of 4 years.

Bassemier also agreed to restitution being ordered in the amount of $4,930 joint and several with 2016-CF-129, People v. Charla Beth Sullivan and 2016-CF-130, People v. Mark S. Keller, as well an additional amount of $43,804 joint and several with 2016-CF-130, People v. Mark S. Keller.

Judge T. Scott Webb will be the sentencing judge. State's Attorney Denton Aud represents the State of Illinois. Bassemier is represented by Public Defender Brian Shinkle. The White County Sheriff's Department was the agency that successfully investigated the case

SALINE/GALLATIN/WAYNE COs., Ill. - ISP District 19 Commander, Captain Cory Ristvedt, has announced that ISP will conduct Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols in Saline, Gallatin and Wayne counties during December.

ACE patrols allow the ISP to focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol or drugs.

ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working the detail will be watchful for drivers who are operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license, transporting open alcoholic beverages, and most importantly:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI
• Safety Belt and Child Restraint use
• Speeding
• Distracted Driving and
• All Illinois Vehicle Code and Criminal Violations

Alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in more than 30 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 53 minutes in the United States. The ACE program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous DUI offenders from the road.

Also in Saline County, there will be Roadside Safety Checks (RSCs) during the month of September. Ristvedt says the use of RSCs combine a strong sense of public awareness and enforcement in order to save lives of the motoring public.

These projects are funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

DISTRICT 19 - Illinois State Police District 19 Commander Captain Cory Ristvedt has announced the results of various patrols across the district.

NITE, Saline

Below are the results of Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Saline County. NITE patrols allow ISP to focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations especially between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

OREP, Wabash/Edwards

Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) provide extra patrol coverage for ISP so officers could focus on saving lives by making sure all vehicle occupants were buckled up.

sTEP, Wayne/White

Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) allow ISP to provide increased enforcement for impaired driving, occupant restraint, speeding and distracted driving violations during the National "Click It or Ticket" campaign.