In was a busy docket in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court on Thursday.
Lexington resident Duane Lee Shiner pleaded guilty to four felony counts and was sentenced to prison. He received seven years for assault on a special victim; plus three years each on two separate counts of resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony and property damage in the first degree and another assault charge was dismissed.
Judge Thomas Alley ordered the seven-year prison sentence to be consecutive to the three-year sentence with the three-year sentences concurrent with each other. Thursday’s sentences also are concurrent with a five-year prison term ordered in 2015 when Shiner pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge in Grundy County.
Harrisonville resident Kevin Miller pleaded guilty yesterday on three counts and saw two others dismissed. Miller was sentenced to seven years with the Department of Corrections for tampering with a motor vehicle, felony stealing, and delivery of a controlled substance. The terms of the prison sentences are concurrent.
Execution of the prison sentence was stayed and Miller was placed on five years probation. He was ordered to pay restitution of $1,750 and successfully complete the Heartland Program. Judgment in the Grundy County cases is concurrent with disposition given in Cass County Circuit Court. Dismissed were resisting/interfering with an arrest and unlawful drug possession.
Cameron resident Shawn Michael Ward pleaded guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to three years with Department of Corrections concurrent with a term issued in a 2016 Grundy county case and one in DeKalb County. Ward was given credit for time served in jail awaiting disposition.
Sentencing was held for Trenton resident Mitchell Dane Knapp who had pleaded guilty in April to possession of a controlled substance. Knapp was sentenced to seven years with the Department of Corrections. Execution of the sentence was stayed and he was placed on five years probation. Knapp was ordered to enter and complete the third circuit court treatment program.
A Trenton resident, Justin Wayne Stephenson, was placed on probation after receiving a prison sentence for felony stealing. He pleaded guilty; then a charge of identity theft was dismissed. Stephenson was sentenced to five years with the Department of Corrections. Execution of the sentence was stayed and he was placed on five years probation. Stephenson also was ordered to pay restitution of $1,676.
Jameson resident Jonathon Ruch pleaded guilty to felony first-degree property damage; with a second similar charge dismissed. The imposition of sentence was suspended and Ruch was placed on five years probation. He’s to pay restitution of $3,016.
Sentencing was suspended for Milan resident Benjamin Milazzo who was placed on five years probation after pleading guilty to non-support. The court ordered him to pay $655 for current child support and $200 toward the amount in arrears.
Shawn Alan Wells of Trenton pleaded guilty to first-degree property damage. The imposition of sentence was suspended and Wells received five years probation.
Leisure Lake resident Carie Lea Smiley entered a guilty plea to felony possession of a controlled substance. Two other drug-related charges were dismissed. Sentencing is scheduled during the June 13th session of circuit court.
At a probation violation hearing, Joseph Martin Herrity the third of Princeton admitted violations of probation. The court continued his probation and required him to enter the Salvation Army Rehab Program. Herrity’s original charge in Grundy County was felony possession of a controlled substance.
Bradley Eugene Chapman appeared in court at Trenton via Polycom video. He admitted to violations of probation. The court ruled the probation will continue upon Chapman’s completion of a Department of Corrections program. Chapman, who’s from Novinger, has 2015 Grundy county cases of tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest or detention by fleeing creating a substantial risk to another person.
In a case that moved from Harrison County on a change of venue, the court scheduled a jury trial at Trenton for August 8th for Bartholomew Hazen of Cainsville. He faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
