**

HAMILTON CO., Ill.—Illinois State Police worked a Hamilton County wreck this morning that has garnered a McLeansboro man a DUI citation.

The accident occurred this morning (Wednesday, September 10, 2014) at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Hamilton County Road 1150E at County Road 525N.

Police report that Chance Ty Gilbert, 29, of McLeansboro, was driving a black 1985 Plymouth Laser southbound on CR 1150E when, he told ISP, a white truck-tractor turned onto the road and he swerved to avoid it. Gilbert’s Plymouth then struck a ditch embankment.

Gilbert was transported to Hamilton Memorial Hospital via Harre Hamilton County Ambulance. Dave’s Towing from McLeansboro removed the vehicle.

Gilbert was cited with Failure to Reduce Speed to avoid an Accident, No Valid Driver’s License, and DUI-Drugs.

ISP District 19 was assisted at the scene by Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department.

**

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS—The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced that Ray Allen Flener, 26, of Sesser, Illinois, was sentenced on September 10, 2014, on federal charges that he made false statements and conveyed a false threat to federal agents. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois sentenced Flener to 48 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, payment of a special assessment of $200.

At the change of plea hearing in April of 2014, Flener admitted that on November 2, 2012, as a detainee at the Franklin County Jail in Benton, he told a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that he had knowledge of a plan by a group called “the New World Order” to disrupt Election Day on November 6, 2012, by using weapons and explosives.  Specifically, Flener told and showed the FBI agent the area in which the weapons and explosives allegedly had been stored in August of 2012. Flener’s statements were false because, as Flener knew, he had no such knowledge of weapons and explosives having been stored at that location.

Flener also admitted that on November 1, 2012, he intentionally conveyed false and misleading information, when Flener told law enforcement officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI that he had personal knowledge of a plan by a group called “the New World Order” to disrupt Election Day, November 6, 2012, by using weapons and explosives.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sheriff’s Offices of Franklin County, Williamson County, Saline County and Jackson County, and the Police Departments of Marion, West Frankfort and Johnston City. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liam Coonan.

Lucky you, dear readers!

Because the news continues to rain down on us like a firestorm, we’ve decided to have an issue every three weeks until the end of the year. This means we’ll have a full 16 issues this year alone, which is what our mailing permit allows at a max…and that means that if you’re a print subscriber, you’ve gotten FOUR ISSUES this year at NO EXTRA CHARGE. Are we going to keep doing it? More than likely. Are we going to go weekly ultimately? Maybe. Keep watching…things are picking up, and there are some surprises in store for some folks out there, surprises that will leave some people absolutely tickled, and will rock the world of a handful. We’ll have more of that later…but for now, we present to you one absolutely awesome issue, SEPTEMBER 2014.

This month’s print headlines are given here in order of appearance: Front page, back page (second front page), page 2, page 3, Egypt, Heartland, Central and OpEd. They are presented with dateline first, headline, then a brief synopsis. Links are in the headlines so that you with online memberships to the e-Edition can click them and go right to the article; those who don’t have an online membership can click any headline and it’ll take you directly to the signup portion. Enjoy!

PAGE 1

Mike Rich

LAWRENCE CO.—Officer on leave after assault alleged: The FULL version of what is alleged to have occurred last week between Lawrence County court security officer Mike Rich and a restrained subject at the jail. DEFINITELY more news that you’ll want to read, as we were able to learn more about the incident after we published what we did here online Friday.

SALINE CO.—Refuses Eldorado mayor’s offer to provide early voting: Something VERY interesting—and something that’s been rumored to have been occurring for YEARS—was ‘sort of’ addressed at the most recent Saline County board meeting. We’ve got the full story…and it’s going to curl some toenails on both sides of the aisle.

ILLINOIS—The police state is here and you are funding it: This article actually starts on page 2 and jumps through the center of the paper (pages 16 and 17, generally reserved for features), but is played on page 1 because we REALLY wanted to run the pic in color. Why are we showing a Lenco Bear standing in Flora from 2009 on the front page of a 2014 issue? Because we’re finally seeing the frogs beginning to boil…and as we predicted in 2003, they’re not jumping out. Read this article to see just what the hell we’re talking about…and why it may be too late to do anything about it now.

Nick Earnst, Lawrence County deputy

LAWRENCE CO.—Deputy assails elderly man: Your second front-pager coming out of Lawrence County, where when things go bad, they REALLY go bad right quick and in a hurry.

BACK PAGE

HARDIN CO.—Prosecutor threatens to charge board members with felony over office space: We don’t know why Tarable Wallace is going after Kim Rutherford. You’d think Rutherford was selling Disclosures out of her abstract office in the courthouse, the way Tarable is viciously targeting her. When Rutherford gets this behind her (and she will), maybe we should ask if she’d LIKE to sell them. That’d steam Tarable’s taters.

CLAY CO.—Edgewood trio tops Clay meth outbreak: A major meth bust—one of the biggest we’ve ever covered—manages to make it to back page status. Read what’s so impressive about it.

PAGE 3

CRAWFORD CO.—Authorities’ silence over death of elderly man in Crawford of concern to residents: Authorities are calling it a homicide, yet they are also saying no one in the public has cause for concern, as in, there’s not a murderer loose. And then, they won’t elaborate on the status of the guy they have in custody for burglary of the same residence where the body was found. They can’t have it both ways. In this article, we tell you why.

EGYPT

A screen cap of a post that was removed from Brandon Smock’s page because of a pissy man

HARDIN CO.—Police chief hides records of brutal beating: Yet another story of disparity between what Tara Wallace believes to be the situation in a criminal case as regards what she’ll tell the public, and what she’s told an alleged victim. This one involves an innocent teen, and an innocent pet. And it’s probably going to boil your blood.

HARDIN CO.—Suspended chief deputy faces official misconduct charge: As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Bobby Deppen is now in trouble in Hardin. Read the details that we didn’t have back then, in this particular article.

GALLATIN CO.—16 hour manhunt tops Gallatin crim report: The GallCo crim report features the mess ol Lonnie Mann got involved in…and what we encountered when we went to investigate it further.

SALINE CO.—County finances given clean bill of health—Tolley touts prepayment option: Bruce Tolley is running for county clerk. In this article, you’ll be able to see why he’s considered eminently qualified to win that office. Make up your own minds, of course…but definitely see why many people believe it.

Carrier Mills mayor Louis Shaw

CARRIER MILLS—Village of Carrier Mills mulling over joining National Flood Insurance Program: Even when you live in a floodplain, you can’t get flood insurance unless your county or community if signed up with NFIP. Carrier Mills is giving this consideration…and really, despite the fact that it’s a federal program with a lot of restrictions, it’s a pretty good idea.

SALINE CO.—Man says he kicked in door for “sexual reasons”: A meth-fueled sex game? That’s the excuse that’s being given here. You’ve gotta read it to see.

HARDIN CO.—Rise in crime sure to challenge challenged state’s attorney: There really HAS been an uptick in alleged criminal activity the past month in Hardin, even without the Juggalos. See what challenges are awaiting Tara-ble Tara Wallace with it all.

SALINE CO.—Pilfered panties lands pair behind bars: Damn. My shot at good alliteration falls short because I didn’t have enough room in the headline for the word “pokey.”

GALLATIN CO.—Meth and cannabis charged: The dope roundup in GallCo. Although most people don’t consider pot “dope” anymore.

SALINE CO.—Man arrested after he takes UPS drug delivery from undercover officers: Beats the hell out of my how people continue to believe they can take in controlled substances by mail and think they can continue to get away with it.

HARDIN CO.—Hardin clan back in the headlines: Martina Olveda. The very name makes people in Hardin County cringe. See what she’s up to now.

SALINE CO.—Heartland Hospital therapist arrested on drug charge: This happened in Eldorado; seems to be quite a few health professionals getting in this kind of trouble these days.

ELIZABETHTOWN—Elizabethtown facing water woes…again: This is one of those stories that literally typifies everything that’s wrong with small-town government these days.

SALINE CO.—Stolen water investigation leads to methamphetamine charges: Which just goes to show…if you’re going to mess with illicit substances, for god’s sake don’t do something with utilities that’s going to bring attention to you by authorities. But then again…this is meth we’re talking about here.

SALINE CO.—One of four taken into custody in meth lab bust already sentenced to 10 years: Making short work of drug cases in Saline.

SALINE CO.—Harrisburg man placed on suicide watch after failed theft attempt: Because, you know…he “took pills.” Where have we heard this before…?

HARRISBURG—Alley closures approved in Harrisburg: Full coverage of the September 4 Harrisburg City Council meeting.

HARDIN CO.—Tragedy befalls Hardin County family a second time with another fatal traffic accident: Full coverage of what Tina Williams has gotten into now; and the second tragedy to hit her family in the midst of it all.

HEARTLAND

Edgar County Airport Authority advisory board

EDGAR CO.—Illinois Leaks busts out apparent falsified application from new airport manager: One would think that after the debacle involving Chris Patrick, Adonna Bennett and Jimmy Wells, the Edgar County board would be a little more careful regarding decisions about the airport. One would be wrong, in this instance, however.

JASPER CO.—Police discover child sex offender Hidalgo vacation Bible School: It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, and it happened in Jasper County. Read the article to see the details.

CRAWFORD CO.—Arsonist charged with burglary: Nothing worse than an arsonist unless its a child molester. And now, one is charged with burglary.

CRAWFORD CO.—Lawrence meth convict charged in Crawford: You know, dude was getting his crap together a few years back. People need to get away from their old buds before they can get off the meth. Kedley Newlin is a perfect example of that.

Mark Doan

EFFINGHAM CO.—School board hires drunk driver as superintendent: There’s a contract for superintendent at this particular school district, and we have it. And it involves a background check as well…and apparently, this Effingham School District DIDN’T have that. Or didn’t care about the results.

CRAWFORD CO.—Robinson man charged with touching young boy: Full coverage of the article we gave you last week regarding the arrest of a Cravens.

JASPER CO.—Wheeler man charged with felony burglary: Jasper County crim report is delightfully short.

MARSHALL—Mayor deprives voters of due representation: Unbelievable story about a city councilman with a keen sense of justice, and a mayor who is bound and determined to get the city into a heap of trouble with various different agencies.

CENTRAL

Maxwell Elliott

WEST SALEM—Family questions authorities’ hesitation in releasing the body of son after suicide: A boy in West Salem reportedly committed suicide in June. The boy’s body is still in cold storage. Read what friends of the family are telling us about their struggle with what’s going on in the case.

WHITE CO.—WOVSED employee arrested: A story that was literally breaking on deadline, regarding an employee of the alternative branch school in Norris City who was walked off the job in late August, accused of taking students’ meds from storage.

RICHLAND CO.—Collection of School supplies: SAFT: Super Awesome Fun Time in Olney has another great outcome.

Jesteen Weiler (Billinsgley) and her ta’s

CLAY CO.—Disagreeable dope convict fails at getting OP against uncle after his righteous rants: The return of Jesteeeeeeeeen Weiler, now Billingsley, and her store-bought ta’s, in a desperately funny article about how she tried to get an OP against her uncle for calling a spade a spade.

WAYNE CO.—Well-known nursing home sued: Way-Fair, under the gun for therapy services just like Phoenix Rehab was there for awhile.

LAWRENCE CO.—Welches on credit card: One of former Bridgeport mayor Max Schauf‘s offspring proves that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Only she doesn’t have access to city funds to pay HER credit card bills like he did.

CLAY CO.—Iola man charged with drug induced homicide in Flora fentanyl case: Yet another case where the “drug-induced homicide” law, designed to stop pushers, not low-end users who share dope, is being misused.

EDWARDS CO.—West Salem man accused of damaging lawnmower, then threatening a witness he told: Got lots of stuff happening in West Salem. This is more of it; and there’ll be even more in upcoming issues as Harv Fenton gets old.

HAMILTON CO.—Man who exposed himself to minors gets prison: The HamCo crim roundup, which starts off with a really perverse situation.

WABASH CO.—Man gives up guns, ammo and cash to lessen drug sentence: The WabCo crim roundup, which is reduced because Cassandra Goldman is awful busy running for judge.

HAMILTON CO.—Baseball bat and hair pulling featured in Hamilton County violence report: The new cases, as well as resolution of old cases, many of them covered here in brief. This article gives you details.

LAWRENCE CO.—Pair of Lawrence meth felons behind bars: LOTS of meth felons are behind bars in Lawrence…just not enough of them.

CLAY CO.—Another group home resident facing felonies: There have been several problems with the Chestnut Corners residents over the years. Here’s another.

Bradley McCulley

CLAY/WAYNE COs.—Former sheriff’s son will pay additional probation fees in home county: Just when you thought the world was safe from the irksomeness that is the McCulley group, out comes Bradley with a fit of domestic violence. But oh, his marriage is so wondermous, dontchano.

HAMILTON CO.—Stolen lawnmowers, trucks and escape reported in Hamilton Co.: Yet MORE stolen lawnmowers in HamCo? Yes, according to the police report!

EDWARDS CO.—Water District sues oil company: Edwards County civil court report.

RICHLAND CO.—Lawrenceville man charged with pointing laser light at helicopter: What’s with all the crossovers this month? And what’s with this rufus with his mouth all agape? He LOOKS like somebody who would point a laser light at a plane…just sayin.

WABASH CO.—Man from down souf featured in Wabash crim report: No, not a typo. Just poking a little fun at southerners’ expense, as is our prerogative…and there are more than one in this issue, interestingly enough.

RICHLAND CO.—Repeat offenders and rural arrests focus of Richland County drug report: The Richland dope-crim roundup has a few interesting individuals in it….as well as the usual suspects. Which David Hyde can’t ever seem to do anything meaningful with.

OLNEY—Olney City Council votes to approve siting of medical marijuana facility at special meeting: The enlarged report on what happened at that meeting we covered the day it occurred…and Bev McDowell‘s latest input on medical marijuana, which, for whatever reason, attempted to entail George Soros.

CLAY CO.—Flora woman files lawsuit against IGA: Clay County civil court report.

LAWRENCE CO.—Sexual assault charged and child sex offender found in state park: Well, at least the Red Hills park popo are on it, right? And not beating anyone.

OP-ED

SURLY & UNCOOPERATIVE (Jack): Lessons learned covering Ferguson, Mo.
NOT JADED (Jade): The price of good service? $10 gift cards
MINKUS INK (Bubba): Yoga and keeping up with the Biggassians
REDHEAD RAMPAGE (Lyndi): Love zombies, hate exercise? There’s an app

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letters): Crazy Cat Lady strikes back, Shoulders writes from the pen, Freaky Katie Clayton, bizarre activity out of Edgar County agency, EPA rules on ditches in water wars.

BACK OVER YOUR TALES: Articles from the September 2009 edition of Disclosure, including information about what went on at the Sportsmen’s Lounge in Flora, Tea Party in Lawrenceville, little boy Aidan Wang burned in Grayville, Oregon man might have problems in child molestation case in Wabash, child sex pervs in Clay County, National Flood Insurance Program in Lawrence, and much, much, much MORE.

Here’s our Lyndi with the top stories of the day on the local scene, for the evening of Wednesday, September 10, 2014, in your Nightly NewsCap!

Topics covered include: Robert Fricke, 45, of Columbia is alleged to have abducted and held captive a child under the age of 13, authorities said; a southern Illinois man died after a ziplining accident; two wrecks occurred in South Counties yesterday (Saline County) and today (Hamilton County), and Ray Allen Flener, 26, of Sesser, Illinois, has been sentenced to federal prison after being convicted today.

Here’s Lyndi to once again bring you the day’s headlines all in a neat little audio package for your Thursday, September 11, 2014 Nightly NewsCap!

Topics covered include: New Williamson County State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti holds a press conference; Mark W. Johnson of Maunie has been sentenced to five years in DOC after pleading guilty to unlawful delivery of a controlled substance; and the ILCC check results out of Charleston.

BRIDGEPORT, Ill.—A meth bust in Bridgeport has resulted in charges for two men.

The incident occurred Friday, September 12, in the late afternoon (around 4 p.m.).

Raymond J. Robinson

While it’s unknown what drew authorities to the location, what we do know is that Bridgeport chief of police Scott Murray called in county deputies to assist with the arrests of Raymond Robinson, 36, who is out on parole from a 2010 Lawrence County meth conviction and sentencing, and Zachary Riggs, almost 24, an accused petty crim who doesn’t have much of a record to speak of.

Arresting charges were Meth Manufacturing, Possession of Meth Manufacturing Materials, Possession of Meth, and an assortment of other charges are pending.

A meth response team was called to dispose of the material that was found at the residence.

The two are each being held on $75,000 bail ($7,500 cash bond).

That Robinson, who was on a ten-year sentence but didn’t even serve a full four on it, was out and able to allegedly ply his trade, speaks volumes for Illinois’ stance on meth, as well as Lawrence’s outlook for the future. First, the stance on meth is nothing but lip service in Illinois. People are busted and rarely do they serve any meaningful prison time. First-time offenders nearly always get extended probation; subsequent offenders get reductions in sentencing. They brag while in prison about what they learned from their arrests and how they’re going to do things differently when they get out…and most of them do exactly that.

Which leads us to Lawrence’s problem, especially after former prosecutor Lisa Wade’s failed four years in office: She never fought hard enough to put the offenders behind bars for anything meaningful. And now, the wave of people she managed to get a conviction-through-plea-agreement over are being released from DOC, coming back to the shitholes where they started out, and doing it all over again. NO ONE learns a lesson in this, unless of course it’s the crims who get smarter about being caught. And they’re out there…sucking in other people with their poison…and decimating a huge percentage of the population in Lawrence.

We’ll see what Lawrence’s current prosecutor, Chris Quick, is going to do with Robinson and Riggs. More as we get it, likely in the print version, on stands September 30 and October 1.

Here’s Lyndi with the weekend recap of the NewsCap, as well as today’s headlines, for the evening of Monday, September 15, 2014 and Saturday/Sunday, Sept. 13/14!

Topics covered include: Massive manhunt Friday for Tyree Neal, across three counties, and his massive criminal history; wreck Saturday on old Illinois Route 13 in Williamson County sends local man to the hospital; a West Frankfort man in a motorcycle wreck in Saline County; and meth bust in Bridgeport happens Friday.

mmmm…yummy

Jack L. Harrison, Sr.

EDWARDS CO., Ill.—The man who scammed a Albion resident out of quite a bit of money this past April has been sentenced in Edwards County circuit court after a plea deal.

Court documents show that Jack L. Harrison, Sr., of Arkansas, entered a plea today to overcharging Roy Longbons for a blacktop driveway job Harrison performed for him.

However, court documents further show that Longbons wasn’t the only victim.

MAP Oil Company of Grayville and Van Doty of Albion apparently were also scammed by Harrison…and the restitution Harrison has to pay in all three cases as ordered by the court amounts to $21,400.

Harrison, in exchange for the restitution, has been allowed to enter a plea to misdemeanor Theft (under $500) in Longbons’ case.

The whole thing was negotiated between Edwards County State’s Attorney Mike Valentine and Harrison’s attorney, Harold Pike, and entered officially in court today (September 16, 2014), along with a Miscellaneous Remedy case being filed by Valentine against Harrison that secures the restitution to all, including the two uncharged cases, MAP’s and Doty’s.

The MR case also ensures that Harrison is prohibited from doing business in the state of Illinois.

Court documents show that the restitution has been made.

Judge David Frankland signed off on all of it earlier today, and apparently, Harrison, who’s been held since first being charged in early August, has returned to his home state or is in the process of it.

Not a very busy news day today, but Lyndi has it for you in audio for the evening of Tuesday, September 16, 2014!

Topics covered include: Former Williamson County state’s attorney Chuck Garnati censured by the Attorney Registry and Disciplinary Commission four days after his ‘retirement,’ and the Arkansas man who scammed Edwards County residents and a business makes full restitution after turning himself in and negotiating a plea.

Timothy Going

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT, ILLINOIS—Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on September 17, 2014, Timothy C. Going, 43, formerly of Fairfield, Ill., where he worked as the coach for the cross country team, the assistant coach for the track team, and a math teacher at Fairfield Community High School, pled guilty to a four-count Indictment charging him, in Counts 1 through 3, with the Attempted Sexual Exploitation of Minors and, in Count 4, with Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct.

For the three counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of Minors, Going faces a term of not less than fifteen years but not more than thirty years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not less than five years to life for each count.  For the offense of Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, Going faces a term of not more than ten years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not less than five years to life.

Going’s sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2015, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Going has been held without bond since his arraignment on July 21, 2014.

Court documents revealed that Going’s criminal activities began on May 5, 2014, when a hidden video camera was discovered above a bathroom stall in the girls’ locker room at Fairfield Community High School. The video camera was wired to a black box with an antennae attached to it and a SD card slot in it. The next day, an Illinois State Police (ISP) crime scene investigator collected the camera and black box as evidence and transported them to the ISP’s forensics crime lab in Springfield, Illinois.

An ISP Forensic Technician began a forensic examination of the SanDisk micro SD card (SD card) removed from the black box that was wired to the hidden video camera and discovered several video clips from May 5, 2014, which depicted teenage girls using the bathroom stall or standing or walking next to the bathroom stall in the girls’ locker room in various stages of undress. There were other video clips that had been deleted that showed that the camera had been hidden in different locations in the girls’ locker room, including the changing area, before being placed above the bathroom stall.

The SD card also contained a video clip from May 2, 2014, which captured the placement of the hidden camera in the location in which it was found, by a white male wearing shorts and white ankle socks at approximately 10:28 p.m. that night. A review of the school’s surveillance video showed Going entering the school near that time wearing black shorts, a black hoodie, a gray stocking cap, tennis shoes, and white ankle socks. The school’s surveillance system captured Going later going into the dark gym area, and, at approximately 10:28 p.m., leaving the gym area wearing his white ankle socks and carrying his shoes. The surveillance camera then showed Going exit the school, sit on the stairs to put on his shoes, walk to his truck and drive away.

Additional images recovered from the SD card showed images of members of the girls’ cross country team in various stages of undress as they prepared to and/or finished showering in what appeared to be different hotel bathrooms. Illinois State Police Special Agents spoke with the administration at Fairfield Community High School and learned that Going had taken the cross country team on two overnight trips in 2012 and one overnight trip in 2013 to attend track meets and two regional competitions at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois.  Going drove the bus that carried both the cross country team to the meet and regional competitions.

Members of the girls’ 2012 and 2013 cross country teams were interviewed regarding these overnight trips.  The interviews revealed that Going had the same routine when he arrived at and left the motel with the cross country team.  He would either have the team wait on the bus or in the lobby while he checked them in and took the keys from the hotel clerk.  He would then tell the kids to wait so he could check the rooms for any “damage” so that the damage would not be attributed to the students occupying the room, and subsequently charged to the school.  After he returned, he would assign rooms to the girls and the boys, and give them the keys to their rooms.  Likewise, before checking out of the motel the next day, Going would again have the team either wait in the lobby or on the bus while he would take their keys and tell them that he was going to check the rooms for any “damage” and to make sure all personal belongings had been removed.  He would then turn the keys into the motel clerk and they would leave. It was at these times that Going installed and removed the hidden video camera from the bathroom of rooms he specifically assigned to members of the girls’ cross country team.

On May 9, 2014, Going was arrested and charged by the Wayne County State’s Attorney with unauthorized videotaping of students as well as burglary to the school. That same day, a state search warrant was executed at Going’s residence and numerous electronic media devices were seized. These electronic media devices, including, but not limited to, a MSI Generic desktop computer, a HP Pavilion laptop computer, were also submitted to the ISP’s forensics crime lab for forensic examination. During the forensic examinations of the MSI Generic desktop computer and the HP Pavilion laptop computer, a large number of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were found.  The majority of the images had been downloaded via the internet, and depicted sexual interactions between minors and adults, as well as sexual interactions between minors, and the lascivious display of the genitals of minors.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab Aresources.

The case was investigated by the Illinois State Police, the Fairview Heights Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Child Exploitation Task Force.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.

LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—Lawrence County Sheriff Russell Adams has taken action in the case of an incident that occurred earlier this month.

Adams today fired former court security officer Mike Rich, who ran into a little trouble on September 4 as outlined in this post. For those who might not be familiar with it, the situation came about after an arrest of an allegedly drunken man, Gregory McMahon of Jefferson County, following a fight at a bar in Westport. Long story short (you can read the whole thing at the below link), McMahon, who was bleeding profusely from a head wound sustained in the bar brawl, got verbally abusive, threatening those in the jail, and took the opportunity to spit on Rich. Rich came unglued and allegedly landed a karate kick on the restrained man’s chest…and as a result, Rich was placed on leave.

Illinois State Police were called in to be impartial investigators, and that’s been ongoing until today. Today, after conferring with the representative from the union previous sheriff Steve Chansler got the department into and from which there’s no easy extrication (and which has cost the county a phenomenal amount of money in raises and overtime over the years, as well has the department having to hang on to worthless deputies), Rhett Barkey, Rich’s employ was terminated.

And further, ISP has turned the case over to the feds: The Federal Bureau of Investigation, this, apparently, on the heels of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, according to authorities in Lawrence County.

Why this is further notable is outlined in the full article which is in the current issue (September 2014) on stands now. Here’s a snippet as your evening Read the Lead, Officer on leave after assault alleged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mike Rich

…EMTs took McMahon to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for attention to the head wound, and he subsequently needed stitches. It was determined that he was barely bruised from the kick that was landed to the chest, and no harm was done.

To McMahon, anyway.

Because of McMahon’s complaints about the incident, sheriff’s department officials knew that they were going to have to address it officially. So Chief Deputy Trent Masterson called Illinois State Police, and MSgt Ryan Shumaker contacted county prosecutor Chris Quick Friday morning, Sept. 5, for a formal request to have ISP investigate the incident.

Rich was placed on administrative leave with pay, which was how Sheriff Russell Adams was advised to handle it when Adams called the attorney representing the union of which Rich, and other sheriff’s department employees, are a part.

Problems in the past

This wouldn’t be Rich’s first problem that the union has had to step in over his employment.

In 2005, Rich was suspended from his job as a jailer after allegations were made that Rich was offering cigarettes and snacks to jailed female inmates if they would display their bare breasts to him. Enough women came forward with the complaint that then-sheriff Dennis Bridwell had no choice but to suspend Rich pending outcome of the investigation.

Rich was reported to have admitted that this behavior did indeed take place. But, because of union protection, he was able to successfully fight to get his job back after taking the matter to court…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To read the full article, click the headline link above the excerpt if you’re an online subscriber to the e-Edition. If you aren’t a subscriber yet, click this link here to get started; we now have day passes if you just need a quick fix of Disclosure! Or, if you would rather hold a paper in your hands, pick up a copy at any one of our many vendors, including in Lawrence, Lou’s Restaurant in Bridgeport, or Jim’s Guns on Highway 250 between Bridgeport and Lawrenceville; in neighboring Allendale, CJ’s; and neighboring Flat Rock, Maxwell House. Don’t miss this issue; it’s a HUGE one for Lawrence County, and it’s only on stands for the next TWO WEEKS.

Here’s Lyndi bringing you your Nightly NewsCap for the evening of Wednesday, September 17, 2014, and it’s been a heavy news day!

Topics covered include: Tamara Williams, accused of murdering Barbara Beers, has been found fit to stand trial; feds either accept pleas or lay out sentencing for Johnathan T. Buck, Keithy D. Carter, a/k/a “Darnell K. Carter,” and former Fairfield teacher and coach, Timothy C. Going; body of missing Indiana woman Kristy Kelley, found in her car in a Boonville-area lake; and Kenneth Eugene aka “Kenny” Sims Jr. in Williamson County sentenced on state charges for weapons violations.

I meant to mention the other day…welcome to the one-year anniversary of the Nightly NewsCap!! We came up with the idea on September 20 of last year and have enjoyed a pretty consistent run of it! We thank you for listening, and for checking our site for the ‘cap, which is one of our consistent draws, and that’s all due to YOU!

So now here’s Lyndi with topics for the evening of Monday, Sept. 22, 2014!

Topics covered include: Devin Hankins, called “Hopkins” by McCracken County, Kentucky, authorities, is part of an alleged prostitution sting in Paducah; the FAA stops construction on new sections of the Edgar County Airport; Robert M. Boaz missing from Williamson County; Fairfield High School goes on lockdown when a ‘threat’ is made via social networking; and our beloved friend Becky Malkovich succumbs today after a heart attack on Saturday.

A toast to Becky….we love you, Miz Malkovich. RIP; see ya on the beach in that perfect world.

There is nothing more sorrowful than the death of a child; but compound that death by the fact that it happened as a result of a suicide, and that does indeed make it all the more sorrowful.

However, in the case of one Edwards County family, they are facing both.

And worse, as of the article presented in the current issue, September 2014, there is no resolution to the case, meaning that authorities haven’t ruled the death of Maxwell Elliott a suicide…and that means that at least someone in charge thinks there might have been something other than suicide—death at the hand of another, or an accident—as the cause of death.

What the family is going through is outlined in this noontime Read the Lead, Family questions authorities’ hesitation in releasing the body of son after suicide:

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Maxwell Elliott

WEST SALEM—The death of a 14-year-old boy in West Salem this past June remains unresolved, and sources close to the family have reported that his family is disturbed by the delay.

The family of Maxwell Kirk Elliott, the West Salem eighth grader who was found dead in his room at his father’s house June 7, has not been able to bury the boy: His body has been held in a morgue by the Edwards County coroner, Mark Curtis, since that time, with Curtis telling the family that “It’s up to the court system now” when they make inquiries as to what will happen next.

However, Edwards County State’s Attorney Mike Valentine has said that there is nothing to indicate that Maxwell’s death was anything other than a tragic suicide, and that no charges are being considered against anyone over any aspect of the boy’s death.

The situation arose at about 4 in the afternoon of Saturday, June 7, when the Elliott boys, Sam, 15, and Maxwell were at their father George Elliott’s residence on Pinhook Street in West Salem.

Sam was on the phone to his mother Regina Cashmore, who was reportedly in Mt. Vernon at the time; George Elliott was at work at the Walmart Distribution Center in Olney.

Reports indicate that the two boys were quarrelling about listening to music on their father’s computer through the Pandora music service website, and were fighting about Sam having taken the remote…..

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To read the rest of this intriguing article, click the headline link above the excerpt if you have an online membership to the e-Edition; if you don’t, click this link here to get started on your subscription today! The e-Edition gets you EVERY article, EVERY photo, in the hard copy print edition, delivered right here to your computer in an easy-to-read format, for only $5.99 a month, or a one-day pass for $2.99, which is a VERY popular and growing feature of the site. Or if you prefer a print copy, head on out to our Edwards County vendors, Bruce Lee in Albion or Liquor Barn in Grayville, as well as Grayville Shell Mart on up the road, or, in the other direction, CJ’s in Allendale to the was tot West Salem, and to the north, in Richland County, MotoMart and Marilyn’s Liquor Cabinet in Olney, and Bottle Hut of Noble. Hurry! This issue is off the stands NEXT WEEK, when the October issue hits…don’t miss out!!

Here’s Lyndi rounding up the headlines and top news stories from the past 24 hours in audio for the Nightly NewsCap, September 23, 2014!!

Topics covered include: Last night’s missing person Mikey Boaz’ situation ends in tragedy; an inmate escapes from prison in Vandalia; and Jesse A. McDonald who was found to have over 80 pot plants in his home, and an additional 3 1/2 lbs of finished pot stored…allegedly, of course.

While there have been significant problems with law enforcement officers in Lawrence County over the past several years (eleven of which we’ve covered Lawrence with close scrutiny), in the past couple of years, a lot of that has tamed down. Even overly-sensitive Dennis York had toned down his brutality methods (although one outburst, which could reasonably be blamed on his underage daughter birthing a child with a man significantly older than she…and a criminal to boot, ultimately cost him his job not long ago).

However, the “new breed” of pissant cops, in which Lawrence seemed to have been a microcosm a decade ago, is coming upon the citizenry all across America—one not noted for high intellect, definitely noted for knee-jerk reactions, and generally lacking in the common sense department.

Unfortunately, that’s what befell a Bridgeport business owner here back in July. And that’s what the subject of our noontime Read the Lead is for you today. Here now is Deputy assails elderly man, a front-pager that has Lawrence County duly abuzz.

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LAWRENCE CO.—A Lawrence County deputy has followed the path of violent and insecure officers preceding him by turning a situation around on a 73-year-old Bridgeport resident who was actually only lending a hand…and which ultimately lead to charges and an arrest of the resident.

Jay D. Wirth, 73, owner of Jay’s Tavern and the Hilltop in Bridgeport, was the latest victim of the room-temperature IQ it appears is desirable these days for most new law enforcement personnel.

The most recent run-in was courtesy of one of the more recent hires to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, young Nick Earnst, 21.

And as a result of the situation Earnst’s confusion about how to conduct himself on the job, it’s highly possible that the county could be facing yet another lawsuit the likes of which has plagued Lawrence since the days of the former sheriff Steve Chansler, when people got fed up with being brutalized or victimized by trumped-up charges and began appealing to the federal court system to rectify the very serious problem Lawrence continues to have with its deputies and other officers of the law.

Closing after Luau

The incident in question, according to public documents, occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 27, 2014, when Jay’s, located in downtown Bridgeport, was within about a half-hour of closing (1:30 a.m.) after their annual Luau Party.

At that point in time, Deputy Earnst was reported parked aslant in front of the car wash that sits across the street from the tavern, so Wirth’s wife, city alderwoman Robin Wirth, went out to see if there was something Earnst needed.

Earnst reportedly met her in the road, advising that he needed to talk to a Leslie Zellars, whom he claimed he’d observed walk in to the tavern.

Robin Wirth advised Earnst that he must be mistaken, as no one fitting Zellars’ description had been at the tavern all evening (Zellars, Disclosure later learned, is a rather rotund individual and this in a singular way; there would have been no way Earnst could have mistaken any of the reported five patrons in the bar for Leslie Zellars.)

Earnst is reported to have told Mrs. Wirth that he needed to talk to Zellars about a bad check charge; at about that time, Jay Wirth came out to the sidewalk to see what was happening. When Earnst explained his presence there….

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To read the rest of this detailed article, simply click the headline link above the excerpt if you have an online membership to the e-Edition; or, if you don’t, click this link here to get started on your subscription today! Your e-Edition subscription gets you EVERY article and photo we produce in the print version for only a $5.99 renewable charge per month; or, day access for only $2.99! Or, if you’d rather hold a hard copy in your hands, pick up the paper at Jim’s Guns in Lawrenceville; CJ’s in Allendale; MotoMart and Marilyn’s in Olney; and any one of our many other wonderful vendors throughout southern Illinois! Hurry…this one’s only on stands until WEDNESDAY, October 1!!

THIS GAL:

Jesteen Weiler (Billinsgley) and her ta’s

Yes, this toothy chick with a drug felony and a societal reprobate for a husband has popped back into the headlines this month on page 25 with her filing of an Order of Protection in Clay County against a relative.

And while she filed, she didn’t get. Not even on an emergency basis, which is something that usually ALWAYS happens, as judges are wont to take the chance that there might actually be some sort of validity to a claim and if they don’t allow the emergency filing, they could be facing repercussions further down the road.

That said, Jesteeeeeeeeeen Billingsley is the subject of the mid-day Read the Lead, Disagreeable dope convict fails at getting OP against uncle after his righteous rants, which we present to you here in part.

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CLAY CO.—One of the people responsible for the prima facie abduction of a two-year-old girl in the Spring of 2013 has filed an order of protection in Clay County circuit court.

However, Jesteen Billingsley, formerly known as Jesteen Weiler, 28, suffered a loss on her complaint, as the judge in the case denied the petition on the day it was filed, making her 0 and 3 on the court docket when it comes to trying to prevail in that arena.

The ill-tempered Billingsley, whom equally-ill-tempered Jon Billingsley finally made an honest woman of, attempted to take out an order of protection against an uncle, Robert Lee Koehler II, 43, of Rinard, after some smart-mouth comments Koehler made in late July that apparently hurt whatever feelings Billingsley possesses.

First two strikes: Drug felony, then kidnapping

Billingsley, as Weiler, made headlines in mid-2012 when she was convicted of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud (taking a patient’s medicine from him when she was working at a local nursing home), a Class 4 felony. In August of that year she was placed on 30 months probation, ordered to pay $2,627 in fines and fees, of which $402 has yet to be paid, and ordered to attend drug treatment.

But she went off the deep end later when in May of 2013, she accompanied her mother, Sherry Kittle, in effectively kidnapping her niece, Lily Jones, from Lily’s father, Zephrum Jones, after Lily’s mother (and Jesteen’s sister) Andrea Weiler was killed in an ATV accident in Jasper County a few weeks prior.

Neither Billingsley nor Kittle were ever charged in the incident, which amounted to Jones, believing he was allowing his little daughter to visit with his late girlfriend’s family, not being allowed the return of the girl at a scheduled time.

Despite being on the girl’s birth certificate, it took DNA evidence and good arguments by Olney attorney Bart Zuber to get a court to order Kittle and Weiler to turn the child back over to her rightful parent, where she remains today.

Uncle Bobby calls it

Weiler-now-Billingsley, hostile in the wake of the whole mess, lambasted Disclosure for outing her despicable behavior.

However, apparently this news outlet isn’t the only one who believes her behavior to be what it is…and which her own words show.

In the petition for protection, Billingsley wrote that in July 11, “I texted my uncle yesterday asking him to leave my mother alone because it was no one’s fault but mine that he was not invited to my niece’s birthday party,” referencing Lily’s fourth birthday. “I told my mother if he was there I would not be and that I ranked higher than him”…

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To read the rest of the article, simply click the headline link above the excerpt if you have an online membership to the e-Edition, or, if you don’t have a membership, click this link here to get started on yours today! You can get a full month’s access for $5.99, or a day pass for only $2.99! But if you prefer to read a hard copy of the paper, visit one of our many vendors in southern Illinois, including in Clay County Discount Tobacco Warehouse in Flora, The Price is Right in Clay City, and Needmore Store in Louisville; in Richland County, Bottle Hut of Noble and Marilyn’s Liquor Cabinet and MotoMart in Olney; and in Effingham County, Edgewood Store in Edgewood! Hurry…you have just a couple of days, then this one will be gone, replaced by the October 2014 edition…DON’T MISS IT!!

Here’s Lyndi with the Friday news roundup for the Nightly NewsCap, September 26, 2014!

Topics covered include: Williamson County releases information on voter registration; a piece on a wreck in Carmi; and a huge copper theft from Johnson Truck Sales in Norris City.

HAMILTON CO., Ill.—A motorcycle crash in Hamilton County early this morning has left a passenger in serious condition, and the driver cited for DUI.

The wreck occurred on Illinois Route 142, a quarter-mile north of Hamilton County Road 200 North at about 12:54 a.m. this morning, September 27, 2014.

Curtis L. Goolsby, 44, of Eldorado, was operating his 1996 Buell motorcycle southbound at that location when Illinois State Police say he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway.

The motorcycle exited the roadway to the south and entered a group of trees before overturning.

Goolsby was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries he sustained in the crash.

A passenger on the motorcycle, Misty D. Yarber, age 37 of Harrisburg, also sustained major injuries and was flown from the scene to an Evansville, Indiana hospital for treatment of her injuries.

J & R Towing of McLeansboro removed the motorcycle from the scene. The Illinois State Police was assisted at the crash scene by the McLeansboro Police Department.

Goolsby was cited for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Driving While License Revoked and Improper Lane Usage.  The investigation is continuing.

WHITE CO., Ill.—Attendees at the parade for Norris City’s Dairy Days were witness to a terrible situation earlier today in the downtown area: A little girl going for candy along the parade route was struck by a float.

According to witnesses, a truck with a float went by and a little girl ran out to get candy being thrown to the waiting crowd. The little girl somehow ended up between the truck and float and was subsequently run over by the float.

Witnesses state that authorities reacted swiftly, stopping the parade and rescuing the girl, and announcing that the crowd needed to stay back and make room for responders. Ultimately, the little girl was flown out of the area by helicopter to a hospital for treatment of injuries, the extent of which were not available prior to this post.

Additionally, in the melee, another parade attendee, a man, was believed to have had a heart attack. Witnesses stated that it appeared to have happened right after the girl was hit.

Witnesses tell Disclosure they “honestly believe that the man seeing the little girl get hit” caused the reported heart attack. An ambulance was called for that man.

No ages or identities have been made available; Disclosure will be checking with authorities in the morning.