Cass County State’s Attorney Craig Miller then notified the court that he would be filing a motion of consumption of evidence in the case. Evidence collected at the crime scene included weapons found in Harris’ vehicle at the time of his arrest as well as gun shell casings discovered at the crime scene among other miscellaneous items. Miller told the court the evidence needs to be consumed in the Illinois State Police crime lab for extra processing. The motion will be filed in a discovery hearing on May 12
th at 1:30PM.
th at 1:15PM, a pre-trial hearing on June 25
Law enforcement groups say legislation handcuffs authorities, but backers say it s needed
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree, Journal-Courier
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Law enforcement authorities say they are worried new justice reform legislation will embolden criminals as well as put a financial burden on smaller agencies.Jose Maria Hernandez
Law enforcement authorities see some good elements in a bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and intended to reform Illinois’ criminal justice system, but they say other elements will only handcuff them in trying to do their job.
The legislation mandates the use of body cameras, limits use of force and changes policies governing removing officers from duty. It also eliminates the cash bail system.
West-central Illinois courts moving slowly during pandemic
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree, Journal-Courier
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Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and court systems still are seeing some of the impacts from the virus that shut down many businesses and government buildings. Though things are moving forward, holding some necessary processes in a safe way has proved difficult.
In particular, jury trials are posing a difficult task for court systems.
Greene County State’s Attorney Caleb Briscoe said the county has been working continuously to move forward with its cases, utilizing different safety precautions and technology when possible. Still, there are difficulties when people need to be in the courtroom at the same time, he said.
Bill has law enforcement feeling handcuffed
Darren Iozia, darren.iozia@myjournalcourier.com
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A police reform bill that passed 60-50 during the Illinois legislature’s last day of session Wednesday has law enforcement officers feeling like they’re the ones being handcuffed.
“I hope people realize that we’re doing the best job for our city but lawmakers are handcuffing us,” Beardstown Police Chief Martin Coad said. “It leaves the public in limbo.”
Illinois House Bill 3653 now is on its way to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office to be signed into law. While it initially included language that would have done away with law enforcement officers’ qualified immunity from job-related lawsuits, the Black Caucus leadership had it stripped from the bill. Proposed stricter use-of-force guidelines also were cut from the final bill.
A Virginia man faces multiple murder charges in the aftermath of a shooting that left a former girlfriend and another woman dead at a Virginia residence Sunday afternoon.
Robert D. Harris, 71, of Virginia was formally charged Tuesday with six counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm in Cass County court.
Harris, who is being held in the Morgan County Jail in Jacksonville because Cass County does not have a jail, appeared before the county s resident judge, Timothy J. Wessel, in person.
The victims, Kathleen G. Wzientek, 68, and Brenda G. Crum, 64, both of Virginia, were found dead in Wzientek s residence in the 100 block of South East Street.