LAWRENCE CO-Allison Fire Department has been dispatched to a report of a vehicle in a ditch that is submerged in water east of Birds on Birds blacktop by the White Owl Winery.
Unofficial reports indicate that the Lawrence County coroner Shannon Steffey is also responding to the scene, which occurred approximately at 10:12 a.m. this morning (Jan. 18, 2014) is when officials received the call.
Officials do not know yet if this is a result of an accident. Keep checking back for more updates.
RICHLAND CO., Ill.–Richland County Coroner Randy Kistler has informed Disclosure that the structure fire at Mt. Pleasant Lane, yesterday (Jan. 17, 2014), took the life of Robert Edward Redmen, who died at the age of 93.
LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—Identification has been made in the case of a man found in a submerged vehicle in Lawrence County.
The victim was Joe Decker, 26. He was found after a report of a vehicle in a ditch, submerged in water, was made at about 10:12 a.m. this morning, the location being east of Birds on Birds Blacktop near White Owl Winery.
Allison Fire Department was dispatched, followed by a call to Lawrence County coroner Shannon Steffey.
Officials do not know yet if this is a result of an accident. Keep checking back for more updates.
WHITE CO., Ill.—It appears as though there’ll be no plea agreement in the case of the girlfriend of one of White County’s murderers.
Candice Brown’s Richland County mug
Candice Brown, 31, is set for jury selection at the courthouse in Carmi on Tuesday, January 21, beginning at 9 a.m. She is charged now with two counts of Obstruction of Justice, a count added just recently to her case, wherein she’s accused of lying to police while being questioned on the whereabouts of Coston in the overnight hours of August 25/26, 2012. She advised authorities that he was with her during that time…when actually, evidence showed during Coston’s case that he was in the process of murdering two area young people, Jacob Wheeler, 22, and Jessica Evans, 17.
Brown was constantly smoking outside the courthouse.
It’s unknown whether Brown has been offered a plea deal, but if she has, she apparently turned it down and is going to make the county go through the process of a trial…even though a DVD, planned to be played during trial at some point, shows her clearly stating what authorities allege are the lies, in a recorded interview.
Danny Coston
Brown has been obstinate and at times downright defiant during the entire ordeal of the Coston case, from the early days during which she was visibly pregnant with his third child, right through the final chapter wherein Coston was convicted and sentenced to what amounted to life in prison. Her attitude and visible arrogance toward those in mourning over the deaths of the two young people have perplexed many, and even prompted rumors last year that Coston may not have acted alone in the crimes, and that she may have gotten away with something, thus causing her smug demeanor. There is no evidence to show that any such thing happened…but that hasn’t stopped people from wondering aloud about it.
We will be there to cover the trial, which, White County officials have advised as of this past Friday, is set to kick off without abruption. Be watching the site Tuesday and Wednesday for updates; these same officials have advised that they believe the trial in its entirety, including jury selection, will take only two days.
An incident that had people on the edge of their seats this past summer continues to be covered, this in the current edition…and the coverage is revealing some really bizarre things.
Lyndsey Polston’s Knox County mugshot from August 2013
The public in both Knox County, Indiana, and Lawrence and Crawford counties in Illinois were intrigued by the stabbing of a Palestine police officer in Vincennes last August, and, we’ve learned, thanks to a lot of dodging of the truth and clever sleight-of-hand, one of the players involved in it has managed to cause nearly everyone around her to believe it’s all over and done with.
But that’s not the case at all, we’ve learned, and further to that, strange incidents of harassment of Josh Green have continued to occur.
To read more about this weird case, click on the headline, “Official sources believe injuries were self-inflicted during cop battery“:
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LAWRENCE CO.—Some interesting factors have surfaced in the case of a Lawrence County woman’s alleged battery on her cop ex-boyfriend since the publication of her charges in the last issue.
One is that Lyndsey Polston, 26, has been reported as telling her employers that the felony charged against her in Knox County was never followed through by prosecuting officials, despite court records showing it was, and that the whole thing was “let go.”
The other is that officials have stated they believe the injuries to her face on the night in question were self-inflicted.
The Knox County jury trial date of April 2, 2014 is still on schedule, but according to sources close to the defendant, her employer doesn’t know that.
Further, according to law enforcement sources, the man who was her alleged victim in the incident, Josh Green, has been receiving ongoing harassment, with the only likely culprit being the defendant herself.
Convinced employer it didn’t happen?
It was reported to Disclosure in December 2013 that it came as a surprise to the Polston’s employer (reportedly Walmart pharmacy in Lawrenceville) that there was a court case at all, since she had reportedly convinced her immediate supervisor that everything had been dismissed after she was alleged to have stabbed Green in the arm with a pair of scissors outside Denny’s Restaurant in Vincennes on the evening of Saturday, August 17, 2013.
With her mugshot on the front page and a rundown of easy-to-find Knox County court documents being referenced, it proved impossible to ignore the fact that Polston was charged on October 30 with Criminal Recklessness Armed with a Deadly Weapon (the Indiana Equivalent of Illinois’ Aggravated Battery), and yet, that is what was reported to Disclosure was done, as apparently Polston believes she can convince people that what appears in this paper “isn’t real.”
Polston, however, has continued in a delusional soup for a number of years, and her behavior—as first reported here in 2011, after Green had been disciplined in 2010, as a Lawrence County deputy, for getting into a fight with Polston’s brother, Adam—has been chronicled extensively, and shows the girl very definitely has a problem.
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Read the rest of the story by clicking this link to get started with your online subscription, or pick up a print version at these vendors! You can get your print copy of Disclosure in Lawrence County at Jim’s Guns between Lawrenceville and Bridgeport on Highway 250, and Lou’s Restaurant in Bridgeport; and in neighboring Wabash County at CJ’s in Allendale, and neighboring Crawford County at Maxwell House in Flat Rock!
WHITE CO., Ill.—Despite apparent difficulties during jury selection this morning in the case of Candice Brown in White County, both the state and the defense have told the judge in the case that they anticipate they may make announcements of their choices as soon as they take up after lunch.
Candice Brown
Brown, 31, is awaiting a jury trial to kick off immediately following selection on her two counts of Obstruction of Justice as they relate to alleged cover up in the murders her boyfriend/babydaddy, Danny Coston, committed in August 2012 against Jacob Wheeler, 22, and Jessi Evans, 17. Brown is accused of lying to authorities about the whereabouts of Coston on the night in question.
Jury selection has gone through two panels, wherein of the first, it’s anticipated that three potential jurors will be booted; and of the second, lots of people are stating they would be conflicted sitting on Brown’s jury. This, they’ve told attorneys during voir dire questioning, is because they don’t feel they can separate Brown’s case from Coston’s, and judge the case on its own merits. In other words, their prejudices against the Coston case overrides their ability to see Brown’s case simply for what it is: That it’s only about her allegedly lying to authorities, and not somehow being more directly connected to the deaths of the two young people.
Another point of contention the potential jurors have stated during voir dire is that they don’t like the fact that Brown won’t testify on her own behalf. The Fifth Amendment gives her the Constitutional right to remain silent and not face questioning from either the prosecution or the defense. Several jurors have stated outright, however, that they believe she SHOULD be questioned openly, thus they believe it’d be a conflict if they served, as they couldn’t get past that notion.
Hamilton County Judge Barry Vaughn has been brought into White County on the case, and has reportedly kept the mood light, cracking wise a couple of times before selection kicked off at precisely 9:25. Brown, who is originally from Wayne County, is being represented by Matt Vaughan of Fairfield. It’s unclear just what her defense is going to primarily consist of. We are aware that a DVD-recorded interview of her allegedly lying to authorities is planned to be played during trial. Denton Aud is handling the case for the state.
Everyone returned to the courtroom at 1:30; we anticipate we’ll be hearing from Jade again in the 4 o’clock hour; be watching for updates.
WHITE CO., Ill.—The jury trial of the girlfriend of a White County murderer kicked off mid-afternoon today, January 21, with testimony from the county sheriff and the playing of a DVD.
Candice Brown, from last summer
And it might be that DVD that seals the fate of Candice Brown, 31.
Brown, charged with two counts of Obstructing Justice in connection with convicted murderer Danny Coston’s killing of two young White Countians (Jacob Wheeler and Jessica Evans), faced a jury of her peers this afternoon after another hour and a half of jury selection finally landed 12 jurors and one alternate. The testimony began with one of the state’s two witnesses, White County Sheriff Doug Maier, recounting the interview he and Illinois State Police investigator Bryan Harms conducted with Brown on the evening of August 31, 2012. During this interview, other ISP officials were processing the scene of Coston’s truck (which ultimately was what lead officials to him as the suspect, as the bed of it contained a considerable amount of blood evidence) as well as alternately interviewing Coston himself in the same building. And during this interview, Brown, who was pregnant at the time with Coston’s third child, changed her story five times, telling investigators that she had gone out to what ended up being the murder scene to check on Coston; that she found him messing with his truck; that she found him messing with his boat; that she saw him speaking to a man in a black truck; and then ultimately, that she never saw him at all, she was only recounting what Coston had told her had happened.
Doug Maier
Ultimately, she said she didn’t remember any times of any of the events of the evening at all, whether she’d gone to the scene (near the Little Wabash River in the Centerville area of White County) or not…and when asked why she’d changed her story so much, she advised that she “didn’t want me and Danny to be the ones in the vicinity where they’d found the body.”
The body of Evans had been found the previous Monday; at the time, Wheeler’s body was within a couple of hours of being discovered in a very rural area of neighboring Wayne County to the north.
Brown’s attorney Matt Vaughan of Fairfield asked a few perfunctory questions of Maier on cross-examination, but this lasted only about five minutes.
It’s expected that Maier will take the stand again in the morning, however, to conclude cross and any re-direct from White County State’s Attorney Denton Aud. The state’s other witness is Harms. It’s likely that the case will be turned over to the jury tomorrow at the conclusion of Harms’ testimony and closing arguments. We’ll have complete coverage of the DVD-recorded interview in the upcoming print version, on stands January 29, and available right here at the e-Edition next Monday night, January 27.
Here’s Lyndi with your Nightly NewsCap for the evening of Tuesday, January 21, 2014!
Topics covered include: Candice Brown, Danny Coston’s girlfriend, goes to trial; Briannah Davis, last person to know the whereabouts of Chrissy Williams, arrested on theft counts; Illinois Medical Marijuana regulations outlined by legislators.
WHITE CO., Ill.—Just a brief update on the continuation of the jury trial of Candice Brown going on in Carmi today.
It’s expected that the state will rest its case of two counts of Obstruction of Justice against Brown—the girlfriend/babymomma of convicted double-murderer Danny K. Coston—this morning. It’s unclear what the defense will provide by way of a case.
Brown is accused of lying to authorities questioning her on the evening of Friday, August 31, 2012, when Coston was being questioned in the death of Jessica Evans, 17, and disappearance of Jacob Wheeler, 22, both of White County. At the time of questioning, Wheeler’s body hadn’t been located; Evans’ body had been found the previous Monday in a rural area of White County south of Centerville; she had been shot and sexually assaulted. The allegations that Brown lied in the course of the questioning resulted in a single count of Obstruction, which was later amended to two counts. The trial kicked off yesterday after several hours of jury selection.
A couple of observations Jade made while sitting through jury selection were 1, that many, many prospective jurors, after they were done on their panel, took a seat in the courtroom even though they were excused until possibly called back. Only a small handful actually left the courtroom for other parts of the courthouse that are, to put it frankly, more comfortable than the courtroom. Jade said it appeared that the prospective jurors were interested in what questions would arise during voir dire, which is the process by which both the state and the defense weed out the jurors to learn which ones would be unbiased enough to be seated. Jade reported that it was difficult to select—many being questioned said they simply couldn’t separate what Brown was accused of doing from what Coston had confessed to have done.
The second thing was pertaining to the DVD of Brown’s interview with police, which interview was the basis of the charges.
Brown shown with her group from September 2012; she’s the obviously pregnant one, in the dark green shirt.
Jade reported that it appeared Brown seemed to be on the defensive at all times, which is understandable…and yet, when she was being asked about why she lied (having changed her story about five times), it seemed she was more concerned with something SHE’D done than with what COSTON had done, in connection with the entire matter. Bear in mind that Wheeler’s body hadn’t yet been found, and authorities had no clue where to look for it, when Brown was interviewed. Brown has, throughout the entire Coston matter, put forth the appearance of being smug, unconcerned about the victims and their families, and a bit overconfident about the whole thing. All of this contrasted with what was observed on the DVD…her concern, Jade said, seemed overly centered on her OWN skin, not on that of the father of the baby she was carrying at the time. It was, Jade said, weird…to put it mildly.
We’ll have more coverage when the court breaks in a bit; be watching.
WHITE CO., Ill.—The woman who said she was home with Danny Coston on the night he murdered two young White County people has been found guilty of Obstruction of Justice for lying to authorities about what she knew happened that night.
Candice Brown, from October 2012
Candice M. Brown, 31, formerly of Wayne County and the mother of Coston’s infant son, was found guilty of the charge after a very brief jury trial at the courthouse in Carmi.
Brown told several variations of what happened in the overnight hours of Saturday, August 25 into Sunday morning, August 26…when Coston was busy first bothering Jacob Wheeler and Jessica Evans, then shooting Wheeler and leaving his body just up the road from his own house, then raping Evans and shooting her as well. Brown advised that she was with Coston at first at home, then said she went out to check on him, then reported he had been talking to “a man in a black truck,” then that he “wasn’t around anyone at all”…and ultimately said she didn’t remember any specifics, nor times in the morning when she was awake and Coston was or was not there in their house.
Danny Coston’s DOC mug
Many were puzzled that Brown took the case all the way to a jury trial, where it actually took longer to select a jury than it did for both sides to present their cases…with the bulk of the state’s case being the DVD-recorded interview on which Brown was obviously lying, and admitted she lied, during the course of that discussion, held August 31, 2012, the night Wheeler’s body was found.
The whole thing has been a nightmare for all involved, including both victims’ families as well as Coston’s and Brown’s…and while Brown had the constitutional right to face her accusers and have the whole thing decided by a jury of her peers, under this circumstance, many felt it was a bit of overkill and drama.
Sentencing for Brown, who has no criminal record, is pending; check back for details.
Here’s our Lyndi with the recapping of the day’s events in the January 22, 2014 Nightly NewsCap!
Topics covered include: Williamson County crash results in serious injury; Candice Brown trial finalization, GUILTY on both Obstruction counts; and Briannah Davis takes out Stalking/No-Contact Order against Tami Jackson, sister of missing woman Chrissy Williams.
WHITE CO., Ill.—A Carmi man has received a summary suspension of an already-suspended license after a crash that occurred yesterday afternoon in White County, this after he refused to submit to chemical testing for intoxicating substances.
The crash happened at about 4:08 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday, January 22, 2014) at Illinois Route 1 approximately 511 feet north of White County Road 1200 North, involving a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Robert G. Veach, 33, of Carmi, and a 2011 Toyota Sienna, driven by Deuard E. Johnson, 91, of Broughton. With Mr. Johnson was a passenger, Dorothy M. Johnson, 85, also of Broughton.
According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, Veach was northbound on Illinois Route 1 approximately 511 feet north of White County road 1200 North, when, for unknown reasons, he crossed the center line of the roadway. After he crossed the center line of the roadway, the driver’s side of his vehicle collided with the driver’s side of the 2011 Toyota Sienna that was traveling south on Illinois Route 1.
Veach was transported to Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado by White County Ambulance for treatment of injuries sustained in the traffic crash. Neither Johnson nor his passenger sustained any injuries as a result of the crash. All parties involved were wearing their seat belts.
Veach was cited for Improper Lane Usage and for Driving While License Suspended. Veach was also served with a Notice of Summary Suspension for refusing to submit to chemical testing.
The Chevrolet Malibu was removed from the scene by Cherry Street Automotive of Carmi, Illinois. The Toyota Sienna was removed from the scene by Don’s Bumper to Bumper of Carmi, Illinois. ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by
the White County Sheriff’s Department, White County Ambulance, Cherry Street Automotive, and Don’s Bumper to Bumper.
HAMILTON CO., Ill.—Illinois State Police have issued information on a single-vehicle crash which has taken the life of a man from Montana.
The crash occurred late last night, approximately 11:04 p.m., Sunday, January 26, 2014, on Illinois Route 142 at Hamilton County Road 600E, known locally as Delafield Curve.
Investigation reports indicate that Robert Scott Beesley, age 60, of Roundup, Montana was driving a 2011 Chevrolet pickup truck eastbound on Delafield Curve when he left the roadway and struck a tree. As a result of the traffic crash, Beesley was pronounced deceased at the crash scene by the Hamilton County Coroner. There were no passengers in the vehicle; Beesley was not wearing a seatbelt.
The crash remains under investigation; however, alcohol may have been a contributing factor to the traffic crash.
The vehicle was removed from the crash scene by J & R Towing of McLeansboro, Illinois.
The Illinois State Police was assisted at the traffic crash scene by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, McLeansboro Police Department, McLeansboro Fire Department, Hamilton County EMA, Harre’s Ambulance Service, Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, and J & R Towing.
OLNEY, Ill.—Olney Fire Department has been dispatched to 100 West South Street to investigate a gas line that’s been cut.
The line was cut by an individual digging at that location.
Use caution if traveling in that area.
WHITE CO.—With the conviction of convicted murderer Danny Coston’s girlfriend, the ordeal for many White County families that began in the overnight hours of the last weekend in August 2012 is almost at a conclusion.
Sentencing for Candice Brown in March will hopefully bring closure to a very dark chapter in the lives of several families, Coston’s and Brown’s included, but the constant reminder in news reports of the murders that impacted the families of Jacob Wheeler, 22, and Jessica Evans, 17, will soon fade with Brown’s sentencing on March 26…and hopefully, not be raised again.
Brown, 31, faced a jury of her peers during a two-day trial spanning Tuesday and Wednesday, January 21 and 22. And while the charges against Brown, age 31, did not directly relate to the murders of Wheeler and Evans, they were certainly ancillary: Brown was charged with two counts of Obstruction of Justice in that she lied to authorities while they were questioning her about Coston’s whereabouts in the overnight hours of Saturday, August 25 into Sunday, August 26, 2012, when he was going about the business of first killing Wheeler, then raping and killing Evans, and going back and disposing of Wheeler’s body.
And as it turned out, during the trial, it was Brown’s own words that convicted her.
Testimony and DVD
The state’s case was based almost entirely on two things: testimony given by law enforcement, and a 40-minute recorded interview Brown gave on the night Coston was also being questioned, Aug. 31, 2012.
Coston had come under suspicion because parts of his truck had broken off at the scene in the vicinity where Evans’ body had been found in the back of Wheeler’s truck; Coston was telling investigators that he had been at that area before the two were killed, but it was only to try to find a place to put his boat in the water because his kids were coming to visit the following weekend and they were wanting to go fishing. With Wheeler still missing, on that Friday evening, Coston was taken in for an interview and was in one room of the White County Sheriff’s Department while Brown was waiting for him. Coston’s truck was in the parking lot of the facility, being tested for evidence. Blood was found, and Coston’s interview was gearing up.
White County Sheriff Doug Maier and Illinois State Police investigator Rick White left Coston’s interview and came to speak with Brown, who at the time was pregnant with Coston’s third child.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 21, 2014, those in the main courtroom of the White County Courthouse in Carmi were silent as the DVD was played. This silence ensued because for nearly 19 months, speculation abounded in the community that Brown had played a greater role in the deaths of the two young people, but there didn’t seem to be any evidence of this as the case progressed. Those who were viewing the DVD were hoping—as one man said openly while being questioned during jury selection—to learn whether Brown was involved with Coston in the deaths or disappearance of the two.
Blunt questions asked
In the recorded interview, White got right to the point.
“What is your involvement?” he asked Brown.
“Danny was trying to find a place to get the boat in the water,” Brown told him. “But we didn’t get the boat in.”
Then Brown diverged from the answering, in order to ask questions of the investigators.
“I don’t know what you guys want me to do…” she stated, looking at them imploringly.
White told her to explain what had happened that previous weekend.
“Start with Saturday,” he said.
Brown explained that she had gotten home on the 25th at about 4 p.m., and then Coston and a friend, Steve Duckworth, had gone to the New Haven American Legion.
She was vague about “going fishing,” and skipped right over to Sunday afternoon.
“So what did you do in between that time, after the Legion?” White brought her back to the crux of the situation.
She told him that she and “Steve’s woman” drove separately to the Legion; when they left, Brown said, she followed Duckworth and Coston back.
“When we got home Danny then tried to get the boat loaded up to take in the water,” she said. “He was really drunk. He left the house at 11 p.m. I went and got him, then we came home.”
Almost immediate retraction
She then reported that Coston left the house they shared, which was located right up the road from Jacob Wheeler’s parents’ home, and “went driving down and around the bottoms.”
She reported that he did have the boat with him, and then called her from a location she was familiar with, at about 1 or 2 a.m. She did not elaborate on the location, but only to say “I knew where he was.”
She then retracted and said that it was about 5 or 6 a.m. when he called, “and his truck was messed up,” she added.
“Were you there for that?” White asked.
“Yes,” she replied hesitantly. “Well, I was there on the top of the hill.”
Both White and Maier jumped on this.
“This isn’t adding up. This is serious,” they were telling her, simultaneously.
“Okay, I’m sorry,” she backed up. “I’m sorry I’m lying. Sorry I lied to you earlier. I’m just worried about what happened. I saw him down there and I saw a guy getting in his black truck after Danny was talking to him.”
She was advised that Coston had told them he didn’t remember talking to a “guy in a black truck.”
“Danny don’t remember what happened,” she told them. “I had my eyes on him the whole time. He don’t even remember talking to the guy who got into his truck.”
Yet another version of events
She was questioned about the fender parts of Coston’s truck that Wheeler’s father had found at the site of Evans’ death, the parts having broken off ostensibly when Coston was “trying to get the boat down to the river.”
Brown said she didn’t know what had happened to the fender.
“I had only left him for 20 minutes,” she said. “I think he was asleep for the few hours I left him.”
The two officials questioned her about the “guy in the black truck,” at which time she then claimed she “didn’t see him.”
They viewed her cell phone, commenting on the fact that she had called Coston numerous times, then asked why Coston would have a gun in his truck. She responded she didn’t know he had a gun. When White commented that the authorities would have to check Coston’s house “and see that there isn’t anything like a gun lying around,” she then giggled and said “Well yeah, there’s guns all over.”
Maier advised that he was more concerned about the two hours Brown wasn’t in Coston’s presence.
“There’s no doubt he spent that time trying to get that boat in the water,” she said, referencing once more the guy in the black truck: “Danny had pulled up right in front of him. We were home by 3 or 3:30…no, 3 a.m.”
That portion of the video ended after Brown commented on her phone, and the fact that the calls disappear after 40 so there would be no further record of them.
The day’s testimony ended with Maier commenting on the video and the fact that Brown had not only lied to the officers, but she had admitted she’d lied to them.
Coston video not to be shown
Day 2 of the trial began with Brown’s court-appointed attorney Matt Vaughn of Fairfield arguing a motion in limine he had filed, which stated that the second video planned to be shown for the day should not be used, as it was a recorded interview of Coston, and since Coston wasn’t present to be cross-examined.
“That video of the interview would be a distraction to the jury,” Vaughn said to Judge Barry Vaughan of Hamilton County.
The portion of the video the state wanted shown involved Maier talking to Coston about “your girlfriend said you tried to take the boat out.”
Ultimately, Vaughan ruled that it would not be shown.
His ruling was followed by sobs from Brown.
Nice lady, but she lied
A bit more testimony was elicited on the state’s case from Rick White, who corroborated what had been stated or shown on video up to that point. White also elaborated on what was going on in Coston’s interview at the time Brown was lying to police (this being the details of the portion of Coston’s interview prosecutor Denton Aud had been requesting be shown to the jury).
White said that Candice was free to leave the interview at any time, and was not being held there.
“She was a very polite lady,” White testified, “but she wouldn’t tell us the truth. She gave at least three different stories.”
White testified about how Brown had given them consent to search the house she shared with Coston, and that he traveled there to retrieve the clothes Coston had been wearing on the night in question. But while there, White got the call that Coston had told authorities of the whereabouts of Wheeler’s body, so White left the residence to travel to a remote area of south Wayne County, where the body was found in a shallow grave.
Aud asked White what kind of impact Brown’s lies had on the investigation.
“Candice not being truthful had a negative impact,” White said. “The untruthful parts had us dig a little more to see who was telling the truth and who wasn’t.
Vaughn’s cross-examination of White was brief and consisted of further elaboration on the amount of time taken up by investigators doing “a little more work” to get to the truth.
On Aud’s re-direct, he established that evidence had been provided that supported the two specific charges he’d filed against Brown: That with intent to obstruct the prosecution of Danny Coston, Brown knowingly furnished false information concerning the whereabouts of Coston during the early morning hours of August 26, 2012, in that she informed Maier that Coston did not leave the house until 5-6 a.m. on that morning; and that with the same intent, she did the same stating that approximately fifteen minutes after he had left the house, she went and found him and got him to come home at that time.
Each Obstruction count filed is a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to three years in DOC.
State: DVD supports the charges
In his closing arguments, which began at about 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 22, Aud reiterated that the charges had been filed the way they had been because of the specificity of the lies.
Vaughn began his closing arguments by stating that there was no evidence that proved that Brown was involved in the murders…a moot point, as that was not something that had been charged against her.
Vaughn then said rather inexplicably, “The way we know she is a liar is because she says so,” pointing out the moment in the video when she apologized for lying to the officers.
“Does a thirty-second lie result in furnishing false information?” he then asked the jury “Is that a crime?”
He stated that Brown had noted she’d “felt like she was covering for herself and Danny.
“‘I just didn’t want to be put in that vicinity,’ was what she said,” Vaughn said to the jury. “‘We aren’t those kind of people.’
“The job of the police is to catch them in a lie,” Vaughn said. “But this is not a crime; it’s just wrong. Why does a two-minute lie cause a two-day jury trial? Why are we here?”
Two guilty verdicts
Following brief second closing statement by Aud (the state gets to give two closings, as the burden of proof is upon them), the jury took a little more than two hours (they returned from lunch around 1:30-1:45 and began deliberations shortly thereafter, returning the verdict at 3:42 p.m.) to answer Vaughn’s question of why they were there with a resounding ‘guilty’ verdict on both counts.
Roughly a third of those present in the courtroom were in tears at the verdict, these coming from either Brown’s/Coston’s families over being upset, or from the Wheeler/Evans group, who were thrilled at the outcome. It so happened that Jan. 22 was Jessica Evans’ mom’s birthday; Kristina Suprenant was present and many noted later that the guilty verdict was a great birthday gift to receive.
Brown is set to be sentenced on March 26.
Whether any further involvement she may have had with the deaths of the two young people will ever emerge or not rests solely on Coston, who is in prison until January 25, 2063 at which time he will be 87 years of age.
There is no statute of limitations on murder in the state of Illinois.
WABASH CO.—It’s been an active last few weeks for the criminal docket in Wabash County, wherein many of the alleged criminal activities involve violence of some sort.
Damage and drug paraphernalia
A Keensburg man has been charged with Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Authorities say on January 4, Michael W. Sisson, 57, of 9250 Rail Road Box 123, Keensburg, knowingly damaged Mt. Carmel police Corporal Jared Price’s uniform shirt, in that he pulled Price’s shirt and ripped the flap on the pocket, which property is supported wholly, or in part, with State of Illinois funds, or funds of a unit of local government of Federal funds administered or granted through State agencies, said damage being less than $500.
During the arrest of Sisson, police say, he knowingly and unlawfully had in his possession a metal one-hitter tube, with the intent to ingest cannabis.
Sisson was released from custody on the same day, Jan. 4, after he posted $500 on the possession charge.
Then, two days later, he was arrested on a warrant for the damage to property charge and posted another $500 cash bond on Jan. 6.
In December 2001, Sisson was convicted of Aggravated Battery of Peace officer with a Firearm, Resisting a Peace Officer, Unlawful Knowingly Damaging Property greater than $300 but less than $10,000 and three separate counts of Domestic Battery Causing Bodily Harm Prior.
He was sentenced to 30 months probation and ordered to pay restitution and $4,960 in fines and fees.
A preliminary court hearing was held Jan. 27 in Sisson’s recent case.
Agg. Battery charged at Swifty’s
Ethan K. Adams, 21, of 809 1/2 W. 9th St., Mt. Carmel, has been charged with Aggravated Battery.
Police say on Jan. 13, Adams struck David A. Pierce in the face, while he was on or about a public place of accommodation, identified as Swifty’s Gas Station, located at 330 North Walnut Street, Mt. Carmel.
A cash bond has been set in the amount of $1,000.
Adams still has a pending charge from July 2013 of Unlawful Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
A preliminary court hearing was set for February 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Albion man charged with meth
An Albion man has been charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
Police say on Jan. 9, at 7:23 p.m., Aiden J. Haley, 31, of 115 W. Cherry St., Albion, was in the 300 Block of W. 3rd Street, Mt. Carmel, when he was driving a red 2008 Dodge Ram, and knowingly and unlawfully had in his possession less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.
On Jan. 17, Haley was released from custody after a $1,000 cash bond was posted.
A first appearance court hearing was set for February 10 at 9 a.m.
Charged with spitting on officer’s face
Buddy L. Gillis, 23, of 120 Hackberry, Bellmont, has been charged with Aggravated Battery.
Police say on Jan. 4, Gillis knowingly made physical contact of an insulting and provoking nature with Wabash County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Hopper, in that he spit in Hopper’s face, knowing Hopper to be a peace officer engaged in the execution of his official duties.
According to authorities, the confrontation between Gillis and the deputy took place after 4:09 p.m. when Gillis, having wrecked his vehicle, left the scene.
When the deputy checked the crash site he detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from the car.
Hopper said he then found Gillis, who admitted he was driving the vehicle; Hopper reported that Gillis had a strong odor of a suspected alcoholic beverage coming from his person.
Gillis was charged with Unlawful Driving Under the Influence.
A cash bond has been set in the amount of $1,000.
A preliminary court hearing was held Jan. 27 for both charges, with upcoming court dates pending.
WAYNE CO.—The war on meth continues to be waged in Wayne County, where it appears it’s gained a foothold in the past month as manufacturing and possession charges are on an uptick.
The uptick began in late December when a Fairfield man was charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
Authorities say on December 30, 2013, Anthony Michael Garrison, 24, of RR 1 Box 87, Fairfield, knowingly possessed less than five grams of methamphetamine.
Garrison was released from custody on Dec. 31, 2013 after Rodney L. Garrison, of 739 County Road 1395 E., Fairfield, posted a $1,000 cash bond on his behalf.
A preliminary court hearing was scheduled for February 6.
Seven charged after meth bust
In continuing his manner of barely prosecuting crime when it comes across his desk to do so, this displayed by the haphazard manner in which said crimes are filed, Wayne state’s attorney David Williams has ahead of him probably a little more work than he’s willing to do with the mid-month January meth bust police managed to bring him.
Cynthia Deanne Bruce, 61, of (address unknown), Everett Earl Irwin, 31, of (address unknown) and Jaime M. Simpson, 35, of (address unknown) have been charged with Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing.
Police say on Jan. 13, Bruce, Irwin and Simpson knowingly participated in the manufacture of less than 15 grams of methamphetamine. Where this alleged participation is said to have occurred is the same as the majority of the accused’s addressed: unknown.
Lakota L. Gammon, 20, of (address unknown), William L. Anderson, Jr., 38, of (address unknown), Jennifer Marie Parson, 32, of Wayne City and Gregory Phillip Bullard, 39, of (address unknown) have been charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
Authorities say on Jan. 13, Gammon, Anderson, Parson and Bullard each possessed less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.
A cash bond had been set in the amount of $25,000 each for Bruce and Simpson.
Irwin’s cash bond had been in the amount of $15,000.
Gammon, Anderson, Parson and Bullard’s cash bond had been set in the amount of $5,000 each.
In Feb. 2000, Bruce was found guilty of an amended charge of Theft Stolen Intent more than $300 less than $10,000, being Theft Stolen Intent and sentenced to six months supervision and ordered to pay $461 in fines and fees.
A year later in August 2001, Bruce was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and was sentenced to 24 days in jail, two years of probation and ordered to pay $100 to the clerk.
Bruce still has a pending charge from Aug. 2012 of one count of Unlawful Possession of Meth less than five grams, two counts of Unlawful Possession of Meth Manufacturing Material and one count of Unlawful Meth Manufacturing less than 15 grams.
Irwin’s criminal history dates back to April 2000, when he was convicted of Battery/Making Physical Contact and was sentenced to 36 days in jail, 28 days of periodic imprisonment, 36 months probation with special conditions, then two years conditional discharge and ordered to pay restitution and $1,454.91 in fines and fees.
In Jan. 2005, Irwin went to the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) for a five-year sentence after he was convicted of Aggravated Battery/Pregnant Person and was ordered to pay $730 in fines and fees.
Five years later, after DOC, in April 2010, he was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia with Intent and was sentenced to six years in DOC and ordered to pay $383 in fines and fees of which he’s paid nothing.
Simpson was convicted in Aug. 2001, of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and was sentenced to two years in DOC, 24 days in jail, two years probation and ordered to pay a total of $1,726 in fines and fees.
In May 2009, Simpson was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Meth less than five grams and sentenced to 30 months in DOC, 150 days in jail, 30 months probation, 100 hours of public service and ordered to pay $1,652 in fines and fees.
Parson currently has a pending charge from April 2013, of one count of Unlawful Possession of Meth Precursor less than 15 grams and one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis 2.5 to 10 grams.
Bullard was convicted in March 2010 of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and sentenced to 15 days in jail, 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay $1,463 in fines and fees.
Bullard also has a pending charge of Unlawful Possession of Meth less than five grams from Sept. 2013.
An arraignment or preliminary court hearing was set for Feb. 6 at 1:30 for all of the defendants.
Child Abduction charged
In a departure from the meth world, Kacy Elise Woods, 21, of Keenes, has been charged with Child Abduction.
Police say on Dec. 26, 2013, Woods violated the terms of a valid court order Dec. 19, 2013 from Cumberland County, North Carolina, granting sole custody of Skylar Woods, a child, to Jeremy Woods, by detaining or concealing Skylar Woods.
Woods was released from custody on Jan. 8, after she posted $1,500 on her own behalf, stating she lives at Haven House, Poplar Bluff, Mo.
A first appearance court hearing was set for Feb. 18 at 1 p.m.
LAWRENCE CO.—A couple of charges dating back several months highlight the crim roundup in Lawrence County this month.
Charged with busting 32 windows
Adam A. Harrington, 51, of Lawrenceville has been charged with Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property.
Authorities say on or about October 15, 2013, at 1401 Jefferson, Lawrenceville, Harrington knowingly damaged, without the consent of the State of Illinois, 32 windows of Clyde Smith Manor, which property is supported wholly or in part with the State of Illinois funds, said damage being in excess of $500 but not in excess of $10,000.
Records show that Harrington had only been recently released from a mental healthcare facility when he went on the alleged window-breaking spree, using a hammer on the apartments at the government-supported housing facility.
Eyewitnesses from inside the apartments reported at the time that Harrington “thought the high-rise was a federal building or the CIA building, ‘and was just going nuts.’”
Sheriff Russell Adams and Chief Deputy Trent Masterson showed up, and, as Adams told Disclosure at the time, “We got him to drop the hammer pretty quick, but then he pulled out a butcher knife.”
At that point, Adams said, Masterson had to deploy his TASER to effect Harrington’s apprehension.
Harrington was taken in on not only arresting charges of the criminal damage count, but also a misdemeanor Resisting a Peace Officer count, which was later let go with the filing of the felony count.
Initially, it was feared that after a psychiatric evaluation, all charges would be dismissed: after his arrest, Harrington was transferred to Choate Mental Hospital in Anna. However, apparently Harrington has been determined fit to stand trial, and charges were filed, with intentions to go through with prosecution.
A cash bond has been set in the amount of $3,000.
Harrington does have a criminal history: In September 2003, he was convicted of Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, 18 months probation and ordered to pay $856 in fines and fees.
A preliminary court hearing has been set for January 29 at 11 a.m.
Menard inmate facing charges in Lawrence Co.
Robert D. Lipsey, 32, of 10940 Lawrence Rd., Lawrence Correctional Center has been charged with Aggravated Battery.
Authorities say on September 16, 2013, Lipsey, knowing Anthony Senn to be a correctional institution employee performing his official duties at Lawrence Correctional, struck Senn in the face with his fist.
An order of habeas corpus was issued Jan. 14, ordering Menard Correctional Center to deliver Lipsey to the Lawrence County Courthouse on February 19 at 11 a.m.
Special prosecutor granted in York and Quick case
In a case in which Lawrence County State’s Attorney Chris Quick reported to have had his hand closed in a door by Lawrence County Deputy Dennis Matthew York, 38, a motion for an appointment of special prosecutor was requested by Quick on November 25, 2013.
The motion was granted on Nov. 26, 2013 by judge Mark Shaner.
While the case will likely be handed to special prosecutor Mike Vujovich for any potential prosecution, nothing has been filed as of press time. York remains on leave from the sheriff’s department in the interim.
EDWARDS CO.—Rick G. Pollard, 59, of 217 E. Fair St., Grayville, has been charged with Disorderly Conduct and Assault.
Authorities say on January 5, at 1 a.m., Pollard was at 1015 S. Silver St., Grayville when the offense was committed.
Pollard was released from custody on Jan. 5, after Greg Pacer, of Grayville post a $150 cash bond.
A first appearance has been scheduled for Feb. 11 at 8:30 a.m.
Violence out on McD’s parking lot
Ivan D. Hinds Jr., 19, of 118 S. 5th St., Albion, has been charged with two separate counts of Aggravated Battery, Domestic Battery and Illegal Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.
Police say on Jan. 2, Hinds was at McDonald’s parking lot, at 40 W. Main St., Albion, a public way, knowingly caused bodily harm to Amanda Fraker, when he struck Fraker in the face with his hand and caused bodily harm to Danny Hinds when he struck Danny Hinds upon his body with his hand.
Hinds, police say, then caused bodily harm to Danny Hinds, a family member, when he struck him several times about his body, at a time when Ivan Hinds had A prior conviction for Domestic Battery.
Police say Hinds, a person under 21 years, also knowingly consumed an alcoholic liquor.
A cash bond has been set in the amount of $2,000.
In November 2013, Hinds was convicted of Domestic Battery Causing Bodily Harm and was sentenced to 16 days in jail, two years probation and ordered to pay $822 in fines and fees of which he’s paid none.
A review court hearing has been set for March 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Two men charged
with Residential Burglary
Robert W. Prichard, 18, of 310 N. Fifth St., Albion, and Christopher M. Price, 17, of 722 W. 6th St., Mt. Carmel, have been charged with Residential Burglary.
Police say on December 26, 2013, Pritchard knowingly and without authority, entered into the dwelling place of Brandon and Sierra Merril, located at 746 County Road 450 North, Albion, with the intent to commit theft.
A cash bond has been set in the amount of $5,000 for each of them.
A pre-trial has been set for Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. for Pritchard.
As of press time no court date had been given in Price’s case.
RICHLAND CO.—Two Flora women have been charged with Retail Theft.
Authorities say that on January 10, Sara E. Slover, 26, of 717 East 3rd Street, Flora and Dana Michelle Sapp, 26, of 219 East Scudamore, Flora, knowingly took possession of certain merchandise offered for sale in Wal-Mart, 1001 N. West Street, Olney.
Basics of life alleged taken
The items the ladies are alleged to have walked out with included just about everything a person would need for setting up house and enjoying the basic comforts of life.
Police say Slover took possession of a coffee maker, dish soap, two tee shirts, tank top, frozen pizza, a comforter, hair conditioner, shampoo, pillowcase, fitted sheet, bath tissue and dog food, not exceeding $300, having been previously convicted of retail theft in Clay County.
Sapp, police say, took possession of a sink strainer, 24 pack coke, eight pack tee shirt, dog food, two decorative pillows, kitchen tool holder and a Xbox One headset, not exceeding $300, with the intention of retaining such merchandise without paying the full retail value of such merchandise, having previously convicted of two separate counts in Clay County.
The Clay County record
In May 2012 in Clay County, Slover and Sapp were charged with two separate counts of Retail Theft/False Representation less than $300 and Retail Theft/Disposition of Merchant less than $300.
Sapp was also charged with an extra count of Theft of less than $500.
Slover was convicted on all three charges in June 2012 and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 90 months of probation and ordered to pay $2,522 in fines and fees of which she still owes $1,022.
Sapp was convicted on all four of her charges and sentenced to 60 days in jail, 30 months probation and ordered to pay $2,897 in fines and fees of which he still owes $1,327.
Slover’s and Sapp’s cash bonds had been set in the amount of $2,500 for each of them and came with an order that they shall not enter Wal-Mart in Olney if bond is posted. There was no such protection issued for other Wal-Marts in the area.
A preliminary court hearing was set for February 6 at 9 a.m. in Slover’s case and a preliminary court hearing was set for Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. in Sapp’s case.
