CLAY CO. – A man from Noble who has repeatedly run afoul of the law with misdemeanors over the years has finally been busted on felonies in neighboring Clay County.
Coty James Workman, 28, was arrested on February 3 in Louisville in Clay County, this after it’s alleged that he busted into his estranged wife’s apartment at a housing facility in Louisville and seriously injured her.
Coty Workman, whose behavior has been increasingly more bizarre in the past several years according to those who know him, was initially only charged with Criminal Trespass to Residence with Persons Present, which was a Class 4 felony and thus subject to Illinois’ new Bond Reform Act, which deducts $30 a day from bond for a “low-level” felony (Class 3 or 4), meaning that if cash bond on a $3,000 bail (bond is 10 percent of bail) is $300, an accused person only sits in jail for 10 days, then can be released…even if he’s a danger to someone specifically.
Workman apparently was unwilling to sit in jail that long, and bonded out on the 5th …only to be re-arrested after he showed back up at his estranged wife’s residence, allegedly armed with a knife.
It was at that point in time he was charged additionally with Felon in Possession/Use of a Weapon (for the large hunting knife he was alleged to have had on his person), a Class 3 felony, and Criminal Damage to Property, a misdemeanor because it was estimated to have been less than $500 worth.
Workman, as it turns out, is still seeing his 2008 Wayne County case of felony Theft working through the court system there in the form of fines and fees, so this time, the “felon in possession of” charge was somewhat imperative.
Despite the Bond Reform issue, Clay County State’s Attorney Joel Powless wisely opted to exercise his discretion as prosecutor and requested of the judge in the case for Workman to be held on a higher bond due to the ongoing nature of the situation (judge’s notes read that “cash bond is necessary in this case” – meaning that a cash bond would be required in order for Workman to bond out, instead of Workman being eligible for Bond Reform recognizance, which means a promise to ‘be good’ when out on cashless bond – “based upon number of conflicts with (Workman) and Erin M. Workman.”)
Bond was set at $2,500 cash. While Workman is entitled to Bond Reform reduction in the amount of $30 per day on that amount, the ongoing reduction keeps him in jail a little over 83 days, meaning he can be released without posting bond on May 6.
His case will likely be resolved by then, however. He has a preliminary hearing set for distribution date of this issue, February 21, at which time he’ll likely waive, since public defender Chris Elliott has been appointed him, and will proceed on to hearings until he comes up with a negotiated plea.
In the meantime, it’s feared that should he make bail, there might be more conflict with his estranged spouse, and with young children involved, this is a significant source of worry.
More will be published once it becomes available.