Man gets probation after pleading guilty to battery

Jason M. Yater, 20, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery. In exchange, Lee County Assistant State’s Attorney Stacey Wittman dropped the more serious charges of aggravated robbery and robbery.

Yater also agreed to testify against co-defendants Patrick M. Linscott, Karl E. Ketchum III, and Samantha J. Thomas.

Linscott, 23, also of Dixon, is charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated battery and is in Lee County Jail on $200,000 bond. He has a Dec. 19 preliminary hearing.

Thomas, 19, and Ketchum, 17, both of Dixon, are charged with aggravated robbery, robbery, and aggravated battery; they are free on bond.

Thomas has a Dec. 20 pretrial conference; Ketchum’s is Jan. 3.

According to court records: 

Police were called to KSB Hospital at 12:55 a.m. Sept. 1 after receiving a report that a man had been hit by a car. He had a broken foot and clavicle and several scrapes and cuts.

The man told police he was selling marijuana to four or five people in a white four-door car in the 1200 block of Washington Avenue and when he reached inside, a person grabbed his arm and tried take his money. The car drove off, dragging him on the street before running him over. 

He gave police the cellphone number of the person who set up the meeting, later identified as Linscott.

The car belonged to Thomas, Linscott’s girlfriend. She told police that the four had discussed taking the man’s marijuana. When he handed the marijuana to Linscott so he could inspect it, Linscott told Thomas to drive away, she said. 

Ketchum handed Linscott a gun, which he used to hit the man on the head to try to get him off the car, while Yater twisted his finger, causing him to fall, the documents said. 

Yater has multiple misdemeanor convictions for consumption of liquor as a minor, possession of alcohol, and disorderly conduct.