Crime

3 arrested in connection with residential burglaries of elderly in Mt. Vernon

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 5:21pm

3 arrested in connection with residential burglaries of elderly in Mt. Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, IL (KFVS) - Three Jefferson County residents have been arrested after an investigation into residential burglaries targeting elderly people.

Cortney Pepple, Cynthia Hamilton and Whitney Payne have been arrested and charged with possession of stolen property.

Mount Vernon police say this is an on going investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact them at 242-2131. Information leading to a conviction is eligible for a cash reward.

Cynthia Hamiltion (Source: Mt. Vernon Police Department)

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Mt. Vernon police looking for robbery suspect

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 2:54pm

Mt. Vernon police looking for robbery suspect

MOUNT VERNON, IL (KFVS) - The Mt Vernon Police Department is looking for information after an attempted robbery of Americas Best Inn around 11:20 a.m. Friday.

They are looking for a white male wearing blue jeans and a gray and red hooded sweatshirt with a white t-shirt underneath. Police say the suspect ran from the business towards Broadway and entered a white, four-door car that stopped in traffic on Broadway and left the area going westbound.

Anyone who saw the suspect and/or the vehicle is asked to contact the department at 242-2131.

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Mt. Vernon man sentenced to 16-years for shooting near school

Submitted by James Long, Digital Content Producer

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013, 4:11pm

Mt. Vernon man sentenced to 16-years for shooting near school

MOUNT VERNON, IL (KFVS) - A Mt. Vernon man has been sentenced to 16 years behind bars for a shooting that happened near a middle school.

According to the state's attorney, Jaquez R. Gardner, 21, of Mt. Vernon, pleaded guiley to one count of felony armed violence and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The charge stems from a shooting on January 19, 2012 near Casey Middle School.

In May 2012, Gardner's half-brother, Tylon Hawthrone, was convicted by jury of aggrated discharge of a firearm in conneciton with the shooting. He was sentenced to 12 years for that crime.

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2 men arrested in connection with beating in Nason

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Web Producer

Monday, March 18th, 2013, 3:41pm

2 men arrested in connection with beating in Nason

NASON, IL (KFVS) - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office arrested two men Monday, March 18 in connection with a beating.

Jacob D. West, 21, and Dustin W. Mannen, 27, were charged with home invasion with a gun, armed robbery with a gun, armed violence, aggravated battery - great bodily harm.

Deputies say on March 17 around 8:50 p.m. dispatch received a 911 call from Franklin County Sheriff's Office Dispatch about a male that had called saying someone was being beaten.

Franklin County supplied contact information to Jefferson County and they say they were able to reach the caller. Information was collected and Jefferson County deputies were dispatched to a rural Jefferson County home in Nason.

When officers arrived at the scene at Cowling Avenue in Nason, they found no one at home. Deputies say they were able to gather more information about a man seen walking on East Saddle Club Road near the area.

Jacob D. West (Source: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)

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Mount Vernon police warn of increase of burglaries

Submitted by Christy Hendricks

Monday, March 11th, 2013, 6:48pm

Mount Vernon police warn of increase of burglaries

MOUNT VERNON, IL (KFVS) - Police in Mount Vernon say they've seen a big increase in residential burglaries involving the elderly.

Investigators say the suspect calls people, especially those who live alone, and pretends to be an alarm company salesman.

Officers say that's when the suspect breaks in.

Police say it's important for everyone to keep their doors locked and limit the amount of personal information they give out to strangers.

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call police at 618-242-2131. Information leading to arrests may be eligible for cash reward.

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Eight sentenced to prison in Jefferson County

Submitted by Steve Pobst on Friday, March 8th, 11:31 am

MT. VERNON, IL (KFVS) - According to the office of Jefferson County State's Attorney Douglas R. Hoffman, eight individuals were recently sentenced to prison as a result of pleading guilty to various offenses.

Dustin Kelton, 22, of Mr. Vernon, pleaded guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Without a Valid FOID Card, a Class three felony, and was sentenced to serve three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by one year of mandatory supervised release. On December 26, 2010, the Jefferson County Sheriff's office investigated a dispute occurring between multiple individuals. It was determined that Kelton was in possession of a .22 caliber rifle during the incident and did not have a valid Firearm Owner's ID card.

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Annual Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Summit held in Mt. Vernon

Submitted by Steve Pobst on Thursday, February 28th, 12:30 pm

MOUNT VERNON, IL (KFVS) – The annual Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Summit was held in Mount Vernon, Illinois on February 27 and 28.

Over 280 criminal justice executives federal, state, county, and local departments attended the two day conference, Domestic Extremism: The Threat Within.

“The goal of the Southern Illinois Criminal Justice Summit has and continues to be, to bring quality training, in a conference type setting, to Criminal Justice stake holders from the southern region of Illinois,” stated Shiloh Police Chief, Jim Stover. “I have not met anyone yet who hasn’t come away from this summit with new ideas information and many contacts that can be used and applied for the betterment of their organization,” he continued.

Some topics discussed at the summit included: sovereign citizens at war with law enforcement, the deadly impact of stress, understanding and interacting with sovereign citizens, and mental preparedness.

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