Court Call: Josh Sheley’s trial begins today

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Lee County

Wednesday

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: Last week, Lee County Judge Ron Jacobson ruled that prosecutors may tell a jury that Lemons and Harn’s roommate, Kaylyn Gideon, had sex around the time of Harn’s murder. They may not, however, mention that the sex occurred next to Harn’s body. Jacobson will rule on a motion by prosecutors to clarify the term “proximity” and what they may or may not say at trial.

Thursday

Byron Adams, 51, of Chicago; charged with three counts of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and criminal trespass to a vehicle, a misdemeanor. Police say Adams suffocated Margaret Atherton, 35, on Sept. 11 in her Dixon home.

On the docket: Status hearing.

Jamie Hunt, 34, of Sterling; charged with five counts of bringing contraband into a penal institution.

Prosecutors say Hunt, a correctional officer, smuggled his cell phone into the Dixon Correctional Center on at least five occasions and let inmates make phone calls.

On the docket: Pretrial conference, during which the judge and attorneys will discuss matters concerning the case and set a trial schedule.

William Naylor, 33, of Dixon; charged with armed violence, aggravated battery and resisting an officer. Police say he stabbed a Dixon police officer with a used syringe while he was being involuntarily committed to KSB Hospital for a mental evaluation.

On the docket: Pretrial conference.

Lucas Penwarden, 19, of Franklin Grove; charged with criminal sexual assault. Police say he forced a teen boy to have sex.

On the docket: Pretrial conference.

Whiteside 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: Bench trial, expected to last 3 days.

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 an Illinois Department of Corrections parole check.

On the docket: Preliminary hearing, in which evidence is presented to the judge to determine if there is enough to justify a trial. Defendants may choose to waive the proceeding.

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: Preliminary hearing.

Julie Baeza, 50, of Sterling; the former secretary and bookkeeper for the Greater Sterling Development Corp., charged with theft of between $10,000 and $100,00, three counts of forgery and one count of computer fraud.

On the docket: Pretrial conference.

Elvin L. Jones, 42, of Amboy; charged with two counts each of unlawful delivery of cocaine and unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church. Sterling police say twice sold cocaine to an informant in October.

On the docket: Preliminary hearing.

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