Marion County Police Beat for Saturday, February 18th, 2012

A 22-year-old Centralia man has been arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. Gregory Mays of East Tenth was arrested by Centralia Police on Friday. Two others are being held on outstanding warrants.

34-year-old Jarrin Lee Boyles, who told State Police he is homeless, is being held on a Jersey County warrant. 27-year-old Brett Gaines, who told Salem Police he was homeless, remains in jail on outstanding Washington and Clinton County warrants.

47-year-old David Sullens of Gray Road in Alma was arrested by State Police for alleged driving under the influence of alcohol. He posted $100 bond and was released.

20-year-old Konner Beer of Metcalf Road in Iuka was arrested by Salem Police during a traffic stop for alleged possession of liquor by a minor. Beer posted $150 bond and was released.

24-year-old Ashley Higgins of East Broadway in Centralia posted $250 bond and was released after being arrested at the courthouse on a petition to revoke his probation.

19-year-old Kyle Kloppedal of Cross Road in Salem posted $200 bond and was released after being arrested by Marion County Sheriff's Deputies on an ordinance violation warrant. Salem Police are investigating a vehicle theft.

Gerald Barnhart of South Marion in Centralia reported his car stolen Friday from the Bettendorf-Stanford parking lot at 1370 West Main.  full story

Southern Illinois Insurance Agent Draws 17.5 Year Prison Term For Swindling $6-Million From Clients

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - A southern Illinois insurance agent and securities broker has been sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty last year to an investment scheme that swindled roughly $6 million from clients. Victoria McGee-Harris of St. Louis declined to make a statement during her 6 1/2 -hour sentencing hearing Friday. She pleaded guilty in March to one count each of mail fraud and engaging in a monetary transaction with property derived from illegal activity. She admitted using client money from Swansea-based Metro East Insurance Group for personal use, including travel and operation of a chain of clothing stores in Missouri. Authorities say McGee-Harris was doing business as a licensed insurance agent and securities broker between 2003 and 2010 when she got clients to buy investment and insurance products she never purchased. full story

Business Groups Have Concerns About Online Sale Of State Lottery Tickets

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Plans to sell state lottery tickets online have business groups and Illinois convenience store owners concerned about their sales. The State Lottery has revealed plans to offer tickets for sale as early as late March after a federal ruling opened the door late last year. The Illinois Association of Convenience Stores and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association say lottery tickets bring in a significant amount of business. The sale of lottery tickets online could damage their business and increase underage gambling, says the groups' statement. The groups say implementing online lottery tickets too fast will raise many regulation issues for the state and will endanger 7,000 jobs at convenience stores.  full story

Centralia Man Sentenced On Methamphetamine Charge

A 33-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced in Marion County Court for possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Timothy Gibson of North Poplar Street was placed on 30 months probation, ordered to forfeit his $2,500 bond as fine and costs, and told to serve 30 days in the Marion County Jail with credit for time already served. Gibson had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for two other counts, participation in meth manufacturing and obstructing justice for destroying or concealing physical evidence from police. Gibson and a co-defendant had been charged with throwing a container with evidence of meth manufacturing out a car window, spilling most of the content. All three charges stem from an incident last February that initially began in a pursuit by Centralia Police.  full story

White House projects 2 mln jobs created in 2012

WASHINGTON - The White House expects two million jobs will be created in 2012, slightly above the 1.8 million pace last year, according to Alan Krueger, the top White House economic adviser, on Friday. Krueger spoke to reporters as the White House economists released their annual Economic Report of the President.

The administration expects the economy to continue to gather steam this year although the pace of the recovery will still be subdued given the after-effects of the debt and financial crisis. The White House said that uncertainty about government regulation is not holding back growth. This is a common argument of Republicans. - http://goo.gl/5ZEUY