Mt. Vernon/Jefferson County Daily Record - Jan. 13, 2012

Mt. Vernon Police Department

Arrests

* Shay Lewallen, 18, of Carbondale, was arrested Wednesday at 5:17 p.m. on a charge of retail theft.
* Dustin D. Prater, 20, of the 1200 block of South 25th Street, was arrested Wednesday at 6:26 p.m. on a charge of contempt of court. Prater was released.
* Kegan R. Graham, 20, of the 1600 block of Cherry Street, was arrested Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. on a charge of probation violation. Bond was set at $5,000.
* Ricky D. King, 45, of the 4200 block of Cumberland Pike, was arrested at 4:17 a.m. Thursday on charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting, obstructing or disarming an officer.
* Desiree R. Huston, 24, of the 16400 block of North Millikin Lane, was arrested Thursday at 2:57 p.m. on charges of driving with a suspended/revoked license and possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $10,000.

Thefts

* A resident in the 300 block of North 12th Street told police someone broke into his house and stole his laptop at 11:09 a.m. Thursday.
* Police responded to a report of a theft of funds from a payroll check at 12:39 a.m. Thursday in the 1100 block of South 10th Street.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

Thefts

* A resident in the 2000 block of North Woods Place told police someone stole two deer stands, one stick ladder and a trail camera at 9:34 a.m. Sunday.
* Wednesday at 3:42 p.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Olin Lane told police someone stole an old tree trimmer.
Incidents

* Police responded to a report of criminal damage to a mailbox at 11:57 a.m. Saturday in the 400 block of North Main Street, Belle Rive.
* A resident in the 14900 block of North McCauley Lane told police he and a neighbor heard the sound of gunshots at 11:14 p.m. Saturday.
* A representative from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported damage to IDNR property at Spruce Lane and Bonnie Road at 10:13 a.m. Sunday.  http://goo.gl/j7bS9

One Person Dead After Thursday Morning Accident in Jefferson County

A vehicle crash north of Woodlawn in northwestern Jefferson County has left one person dead. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department reports the crash happened 3/10's of a mile south of East Vasser Road on North Woodlawn Lane. 46-year-old Rebecca Lynn Tufts of Woodlawn was traveling southbound on North Woodlawn Lane in her Jeep, when she went off the roadway down a steep embankment, struck the bottom of the embankment, and overturned with the vehicle resting on its' top. Tufts was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma injuries by Jefferson County Coroner Eddie Joe Marks. The crash is still under investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Jefferson County Coroner's office. Woodlawn Fire, Litton Ambulance Service, and Jefferson County Deputies responded to the scene. The accident occurred at 10:12 Thursday morning.  http://goo.gl/WfuhV

Man pleads guilty to killing homeless man

BELLEVILLE (AP) - A homeless man charged with murdering and dismembering another homeless East St. Louis man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Dennis Iagulli pleaded guilty Wednesday in St. Clair County Circuit Court to first-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old Zachary Irvin.

Prosecutors alleged Iagulli and a second man, James Pierson, killed
Irvin in June 2010 in an abandoned freight warehouse near East St.
Louis' riverfront. Irvin's dismembered body was later found smoldering nearby.

Prosecutors say Iagulli and Pierson killed Irvin because they believed
he had attacked another homeless man.

During a hearing before Judge John Baricevic, the 42-year-old Iagulli
answered questions about his involvement in the murder and waived his
right to appeal his plea.

Pierson is scheduled for trial in February. - http://goo.gl/sRm2h

Carlyle Man Facing Criminal Charges for Wrestling Gun Away from Police Officer

A 25-year-old Carlyle man who allegedly wrestled a gun away from a Clinton County Correctional Officer and discharged it twice in the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese last November now faces criminal charges in connection with the incident. Dennis Parker has been charged with aggravated battery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. Parker is accused of aggravated battery for striking Correctional Officer Kenneth McElroy when trying to disarm him. The aggravated discharge count accuses Parker of firing the gun at McElroy and Correctional Officer Miranda Waggoner. Parker was in custody on a parole hold and a warrant for failure to show up in the Clinton County Jail to serve time on a traffic conviction when he was taken to the hospital for treatment of a head injury. No one was injured in the incident and the officer eventually regained control of his gun. He has since been sent back to the Illinois Department of Corrections for the parole violation. - http://goo.gl/4YjwA

Centralia Man Charged With Stalking and Aggravated Battery

A 22-year-old Centralia man has been charged with stalking and aggravated battery in connection with actions taken against an employee of the Salem Wal-Mart store. Bond for Clint Nix of South Lackey was set at $50,000. He's accused in the aggravated battery charge of putting his arms around the woman and placing his hand on her chest in an insulting or provoking manner. The stalking charge accuses Nix of following the woman around Wal-mart and to her car, making inappropriate sexual comments, hugging and attempting to pull down her shirt. He's also accused of placing the woman under surveillance by stationing himself at Wal-mart in a manner just to watch her work. Nix had the public defender appointed to represent him. A preliminary hearing was set for January 31st. The charges indicate the activity occurred on January 7th. Nix was taken into custody at his home after the alleged victim filed a complaint with police. - http://goo.gl/ARf8s

Bond Sales Equals Jobs For Illinois

Chicago, IL -- The State of Illinois has successfully sold General Obligation Bonds for the "Illinois Jobs Now!" capital program. The sale included 525-million dollars worth of tax exempt General Obligation Bonds with an interest rate of about three-point-nine-percent. That's the lowest rate the state has received on a tax-exempt capital bond issuance in recent history. An additional 275-million dollars of taxable General Obligation Bonds had an interest rate of five-point-two-nine-percent. The bond sale provides funding to help revive Illinois' ailing economy by creating and retaining more than 439-thousand jobs. Now that the deal is complete, the state can continue work on several important construction projects across Illinois. - http://goo.gl/sMmfB

Probation officer accused of helping fugitive

EDWARDSVILLE (AP) - A probation officer in southwestern Illinois is
accused of helping a fugitive by harboring him and even washing the clothes he wore during an assault he's accused of committing.

Madison County prosecutors charged 52-year-old Mary Little of Alton on Wednesday with obstructing justice and aiding a fugitive.

The county's top prosecutor has asked the state's appellate prosecutor's office to take the case because of Little's work as a county probation
officer.

Little is accused of helping one of two brothers who were neighbors of hers. The brothers are charged with aggravated battery and unlawful restraint in connection with an attack last month on an Alton man.

Little remained jailed Thursday in Edwardsville on $50,000 bond.

She couldn't be reached for comment. Court records don't show whether she has an attorney. - http://goo.gl/inqES

Horse Rider Rescued By Two Fellow Riders When Horse Slips Into Rural Texico Pond

A 33-year-old rural Texico man reportedly went underwater several times after his horse slipped into a pond on the East Canton Road in northern Jefferson County early Wednesday night. Kell firemen say two others who were riding horses with the man swam into the pond and were able to rescue him.The names of the three men were not immediately being released. Kell Firemen report the man who initially fell off his horse when it slipped into the pond refused to go to the hospital via ambulance, although his wife was still trying to convince him to go to the emergency room to be checked. Firemen estimatethe manwas in the water about four minutes. He appeared tobesuffering from mild hypothermia. The two men who went in to save him were not injured and apparently were not in the cold water long enough to experience any effects from hypothermia. The property is located about a mile northwest of Divide. The fire department was called to the scene just after six Wednesday night to assist the men until Litton's Ambulance could arrive from Mt. Vernon. - http://goo.gl/e2KSJ

Marion County Police Beat for Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

A 63-year-old Alma man has been arrested for failure to register as a sex offender and resisting a peace officer. Larry Logue of Hills Street was taken to the Marion County Jail after allegedly being found living at a home in Kinmundy. Logue allegedly tried to pull away from the arresting officer until threatened with a taser. Four others are being held on outstanding warrants. 34-year-old Rebecca Lee Barker of State Route 161 in Centralia was arrested on a felony failure to appear in court on an outstanding felony warrant. 22-year-old Dorothy Mason of West Broadway in Sandoval was arrested by Sandoval Police on an outstanding felony warrant. 31-year-old Jason Phillips of Dawley Street in Salem was arrested by Salem Police on an outstanding Department of Corrections warrant. 23-year-old Zachary Maltman of North Hickory in Centralia is being held on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. 35-year-old MichelleYarber of Bridgeport remains in jail after being arrested on a petition to revoke her probation. 20-year-old Andrea Sprinkle of West Lincoln in Dix posted $500 bond on a failure to appear misdemeanor warrant for criminal damage to property. Two others posted bond after being arrested for driving on a suspended or revoked license. They are 27-year-old Blake Alan Hills of Green Road in Iuka and 21-year-old Ricky Brito-Teran of Aurora. - http://goo.gl/ILcmj

Road Improvements Coming to Walnut Hill and Green Street Roads

Improvements are coming to the Walnut Hill and Green Street Roads. The Marion County Board approved a one-million 130-thousand dollar resurfacing and shoulder improvement project for the Walnut Hill Road from the Walnut Hill Village Limits to Route 37. Federal funds will pay for 80-percent of the projects with the local road and bridge matching funds paying for the other 20-percent. Board Chair Terry Johnston reported bids will be sought in March to re-stripe the Green Street Road from Scout Road to Central City. He hopes the work will improve safety along the dangerous stretch of road. Road Committee Chair Greg Smith reminded the public the ten ton road limit on county roads goes into effect January 15th and continues through April 15th. Free permits are available through the highway department on days soil conditions are right so the heavy loads will not damage the roads. Those without permits will face tickets. The board also approved to sell nine no longer used cars at the sheriff's department through an internet site. A no longer used van at the sheriff's department will be given to the Regional Office of Education. The R-O-E will be responsible for needed transmission repair work. - http://goo.gl/u4cMQ