DUIs in Hardin somewhat comical
HARDIN CO.— DUIs in Hardin weren’t dangerous this issue, but they were somewhat amusing.
It starts with James W. Conn, 30, of Elizabethtown, who has been charged with a couple of counts, one a DUI, one, Unlawful Use of Secretary of State Assigned Plate and Driving Revoked after he was the subject of a traffic stop August 19 by deputy Brian Burton.
Deputy Burton not only found Conn to be driving a 1997 maroon Ford Taurus at a time when he knew his license had been revoked since January 15, 2016, but also discovered that the license plate on the Taurus actually belonged on another vehicle Wallace didn’t bother identifying.
To add insult to injury (or in this case, potentially the other way around), Conn was cited with DUI, which might explain the rest of the mess he was in.
Burton wrote that Conn “was speeding 83 mph in a 55; I went after him to stop him. Subject used lanes improperly while turning off the road. After I turned on the red and blue lights, subject took off, I pursued him. He wrecked in a field, took off on foot, didn’t make it 20 yards before falling over. I arrested subject; subject had odor of alcoholic beverage on his person.”
The Secretary of State apparently thought this whole debacle was bad enough to warrant a summary suspension of a non-existent driver’s license for three years.
Conn was released from police custody Aug. 25 after posting a $500 cash bond.
In other Hardin County DUI news, an old gal had the misfortune of obtaining a DUI on August 24.
Bertha A Conkle, 76, of Elizabethtown, was stopped on 146 at Locust Street in E-town at 6:25 that evening and issued a citation for such.
One Donna Anderson posted the $300 needed to spring the old gal, who apparently didn’t blow, as her summary suspension is up on October 9, 2017.
And Gary B. Reynolds, 68, of Harrisburg, was stopped on Highway 146 at Jack’s Point on the afternoon of Sept. 7 in his Ford Ranger and issued a DUI.
He was also issued a notice to appear in court on Sept. 27.
Accomplice in Carmi pole barn pilfering identified
WHITE CO.— A Benton man who appears to be the accomplice of a Benton woman who burglarized a city pole barn has been charged in White County.
Court documents show that Joshua N. Arnold, 32, of 7838 South Stuyvesant St., Benton, has been charged with Burglary, Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property and Theft.
Police sources indicate that Arnold was with 32-year-old Jenna L. Cesar on July 5 when the pair entered a city pole barn, located just west of the old airport.
The pair is said to have gained entry by damaging a window located on the north side of the building, and then once inside took off with, inexplicably, four tires, a tube of bungee straps, a large bag of zip ties and one staple gun.
Cesar was charged on or about July 5 while Arnold was charged August 30.
Exactly how authorities came to know that Arnold was part of the alleged caper is unclear.
Whether or not Ms. Cesar will have to explain that once back in the presence of Mr. Arnold is also unclear.
Of course if he left her holding the bag and didn’t even bother bonding her out of jail, who could blame her?
As of press time Joshua N. Arnold was still at large. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts are asked to contact local authorities to see if he is still wanted or not.
Cash bond in his case was set at $3,500.
Arm pulling lands violent Olney man behind bars
RICHLAND CO.— An Olney man who appears to have been a pain in the tail to local authorities for years has been charged with battering a household member.
Police say that on Aug. 28, Jason Wesley Thomas, 38, of 1822 North Ill. Rte. 130, Olney, committed the offense of Domestic Battery when, without legal justification he caused bodily harm to Mandana L. Rinesmith by pulling on her arm.
This isn’t Thomas’ first arrest for violence.
Arrested October 16, 2006 and charged with Domestic Battery, he pleaded to a reduced charge of Assault and was sentenced probation for 12 months and ordered to pay $598 in fines and fees.
A felony Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charge May 9, 2007 was pleaded down to a misdemeanor August 23, 2007 and Thomas was sentenced to conditional discharge for one year and ordered to fork over another $947 in fines and fees.
In 2010 Thomas was convicted of Obstruction of Justice and fined $456.
On June 21, 2013 Thomas was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections for one and a half years after he was found guilty of two counts of Driving Revoked and ordered to pay $1,016 in fines and fees.
Cash bond in the case was set at $2,500.
Conditions of that bond should it be posted includes Thomas having no contact with Ms. Rinesmith.
Violent Dahlgren man busted for striking woman
HAMILTON CO.— A Dahlgren man who has a history of violence has been charged with hitting a family member.
Information filed in the case alleges that on August 8, Timothy J. Mostyn, 39, of Rural Rte. 1, Box 133, Dahlgren, committed the offense of Domestic Battery when he knowingly made contact of an insulting nature when he struck family member Alanna Wilkerson in the face with his hands.
Mostyn was sentenced to probation for two years and ordered to pay $928 in fines and fees, March 4, 2004 after he was found guilty of Fleeing/Attempting to Elude Police and Driving Revoked.
He was convicted August 16, 2012 of Battery for which he was sentenced to court supervision for 24 months and ordered to pay $1,002 in fines and fees.
And it appears Mostyn’s temper got the best of him again as is evident by his May 16, 2013 conviction on one count of Assault for which he was sentenced to conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered to pay $522 in fines and fees.
Cash bond in his most recent case was set at $3,000.
In an unrelated case of violence, Teddy D. Atkinson, 45, of 603 West Tyler St., McLeansboro, has been sentenced to court supervision for six months after pleading guilty to Battery for hitting Keith York in the face with his hand on August 1.
In addition to the supervision, Atkinson has been ordered to pay $582 in fines and fees, of which he has paid nothing.
And convicted felon Anna L. Aliff, 41, of 211 West Cherry St., McLeansboro, has been charged following an incident involving her dog.
Exactly what Aliff is a felon for was not readily available.
Authorities say that she is charged with one count of Possession of a Vicious Dog by a Felon, alleging that on August 22 she knowingly had a vicious dog, a male pitbull that attacked a female identified only as CG causing serious injury to CG’s arm.
Aliff is also charged with a single count of Possession of Unsterilized Dog by a Felon claiming that Aliff “knowingly had an unneutered, male dog.”
Apparently that is illegal if one is a convicted felon.
Both charges are misdemeanors.
No bond information was available in the case.
Newton boozer accused of grabbing wife, again
JASPER CO.— A Newton man with a history of violence has been charged with grabbing his wife.
Max Utley, 41, of Newton, has been charged with Domestic Battery after police say on September 5 he knowingly made physical contact with his wife, Jamie Utley, 35, when he grabbed her wrist.
Utley’s history of violence includes a conviction April 17, 1997 for Battery Causing Bodily Harm for which he was sentenced to probation for two years and ordered to pay $1,600 in fines and fees.
Things seemed to ratchet up for Utley in 2015 including a Domestic Battery Conviction July 9, 2015 for which he was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail, probation for 30 months and ordered to seek medical/mental treatment.
He was also ordered to pay $2,202 in fines and fees.
Utley was sentenced to another 180 days in the county jail November 12, 2015 after be was convicted of Violation of an Order of Protection when he contacted his wife.
He became the subject of an Order of Protection when he went off on his wife in May of this year for not giving him enough drinking money to booze it up with his friends at a local bar.
Cash bond in his most recent case was set at $5,000.