A few sentenced in Wayne County Court were handed down on Thursday. 62-year-old Richard Sharp of Clay City pled guilty to reckless driving and assault. As part of a plea deal, the assault portion was dismissed and Sharp will serve 18 months of probation. Sharp is also responsible for $1375 in court costs. 20-year-old Evan Nettleton of Sims pled guilty to possession of meth. Nettleton will serve 24 months of probation and pay $4553 in court costs. 51-year-old John McKinney of Mount Vernon admitted in court to violating his probation. McKinney will now serve an additional 2 years of probation and pay court costs of $2360.
4 individuals, 2 IDOC transport officers, lawyers, and Brodey Murbarger were in Wayne County Court on Friday as there was a scheduled appeal hearing on the sentence handed down to Murbarger in January. Murbarger is currently serving a 50-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the murder of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. At 11:48 this morning, Murbarger's attorney, Christian Baril, filed a motion to leave and amend the motion to reconsider Murbarger's sentence. In court, Baril mentioned the reason for the appeal was on constitutional grounds. In court, Wayne County States Attorney Kevin Kakac and Assistant District Attorney Michael Falagario did not object to the motion filed this morning. After some time, both sides came up with a new hearing date of June 16th with the new motion to be filed no later than June 9th. Wayne County Judge Michael Molt granted the motion and set the new date for the hearing to reconsider Murbarger's sentence for June 16th.
Civil forfeiture is meant to hit criminals in the pocketbook. But loopholes allow police to seize vehicles even when no charges result. Many are forced to pay $900 to get their cars back. Authorities collect millions in revenues.
The Brodey Murbarger case continues in Wayne County Court on Friday. Murbarger was convicted in the murder of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. Murbarger's legal team filed an 88 page report on proceedings leading up to his sentencing on March 28th according to court records. Murbarger is currently trying to appeal the sentence handed down by Wayne County Judge Michael Molt. Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years of time in the Illinois Department of Corrections with credit of 843 days of time served.