Court Call: Verdict expected today
Lee County
Wednesday
John Spires, 54; convicted in September of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon and forcible detention. Spires, a former inmate at the Dixon Correctional Center, kidnapped a prison psychologist, held her hostage in a storage closet for 25 hours, and raped her.
On the docket: Sentencing.
Eric Lemons, 28, of Ashton; charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the death of Todd Harn, also 28, of Ashton, who was killed April 5 in his apartment.
On the docket: A motion to reconsider, filed by both prosecutors and Lee County Public Defender Bob Thompson, on Judge Ron Jacobson’s previous ruling to allow prosecutors to say at trial that Lemons and Harn’s roommate, Kaylyn Gideon, had sex within hours of Harn’s murder. They cannot say, however, that the sexual act occurred next to Harn’s body.
Francisco A. Rubio, 26, of Dixon; charged with drug-induced homicide, unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Police say he gave his cousin, Jose Reynoso, 22, of Indiana, less than a gram of heroin that led to his death.
Before the bench: Preliminary hearing, in which evidence is presented to the judge to determine whether there is enough to justify a trial. Defendants may choose to waive the proceeding.
SFlbWhiteside County
Today
Joshua Sheley, 31, of Rock Falls; charged with concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice. Investigators say he helped his brother Nicholas Sheley, 30, of Sterling, hide the body of Russell Reed, 93, of rural Sterling, in late June 2008.
On the docket: Verdict.
Wednesday
Terrell Adams, 20, of Chicago, charged with possession of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon; and Ashley Buntjer, 26, of Rock Falls, charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, and obstructing justice.
Police say they found a .22 caliber revolver and 16 grams of cocaine in Buntjer’s Rock Falls house Tuesday during a parole check by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
On the docket: Both will enter a plea.
Brandon P. Anjorin, 24, of Chicago; charged with armed violence, aggravated battery to a police officer, criminal damage to government-supported property, aggravated fleeing, and resisting a police officer, a misdemeanor. Police say Anjorin led sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase Tuesday through rural Morrison and Sterling that ended when he rammed into a squad car.
On the docket: Plea.
Daniel Sheimo, 28, of Sterling; charged with possession of between 500 and 2,000 grams of marijuana, manufacture of between 500 and 2,000 grams of marijuana, production of less than 5 cannabis sativa plants, driving while license revoked, and possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana.
On Wednesday, police say, they pulled over Sheimo and found a small amount of marijuana in his car. When they went to his apartment to speak with his girlfriend, Janda Hicks, police say, they smelled marijuana, obtained a search warrant, and found a 4-foot-tall plant growing in the apartment the couple share with their three children. Hicks also is charged with possession of between 500 and 2,000 grams of marijuana.
On the docket: Preliminary hearing.
