Crime

Union County joins 'America's Night Out Against Crime'

Submitted by Stephanie Pogue on Friday, July 27th, 11:42 am

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - The Union County Sheriff's Office will partner with Emergency Services and local businesses to sponsor a National Night Out event.

The event will be Tuesday, August 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Anna City Park.

National Night Out is designed to raise crime and drug prevention awareness, and raise support and participation in local anticrime efforts. The program also hopes to build neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships and send a message to criminals, letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

People across the country celebrate National Night Out with many special citywide and neighborhood events. Union county has many activities planned, such as fingerprinting, DNA kits, Smokey the Bear, bounce houses, games, giveaways,many emergency vehicles on hand for kids to see, and many more.

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Olive Branch woman pleads guilty to filing false sexual assault report against ISP officers

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012, 4:17pm

Olive Branch woman pleads guilty to filing false sexual assault report against ISP officers

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds announced Tuesday that an Olive Branch woman has pleaded guilty to filing a false police report in which she accused Illinois State Police Officers of sexually assaulting her.

Dea Ann Thompson, 44, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of disorderly conduct. She was sentenced to a year and six months probation, fines and costs, time served in the county jail, public service work and substance abuse and mental health treatment.

According to Edmonds, Thompson falsely filed a police report which accused ISP officers of sexually assaulting her in February 2012 during the course of an ISP investigation.

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Grand Chain man sentenced to 4 years in prison for meth possession

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012, 2:39pm

Grand Chain man sentenced to 4 years in prison for meth possession

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds announced Tuesday that a Grand Chain man has been sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on meth charges.

Kenneth W. Caudle, II, 43, was sentenced on one count of possession of meth, a Class 3 Felony.

Edmonds says Caudle was arrested in the early morning hours of March 15 by Anna Police and found to have less than 5 grams of meth on him.

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Steeleville man indicted on charges of sexual assault against children

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, 5:16pm

Steeleville man indicted on charges of sexual assault against children

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds announced Wednesday the Union County Grand Jury has returned indictments against a former Union County resident.

Stacey L. Ayers, 42, was charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Ayers is alleged to have committed acts of sexual conduct with children under 13 years of age between 1995 and 2003.

According to Edmonds, Ayers is currently being held at the Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro on $175,000 bond. Charges follow an investigation by the Union County Sheriff's Office. Ayers is set for a first appearance on Friday, June 15 at 9 a.m. at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

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Anna man sentenced for stealing liquor from store

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Thursday, February 9th, 2012, 5:58pm

Anna man sentenced for stealing liquor from store

ANNA, IL (KFVS) - An Anna man was sentenced Thursday to almost three years in prison after he stole liquor from a store in May 2011.

Joey A. Ratajczak, 25, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections on one count of retail theft, class 4 felony.

Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds said Ratajczak was charged after an investigation by the Anna Police Department and Union County Sheriff's Office.

Edmonds said Ratajczak stole liquor from an Anna store in May 2011 and the charge was elevated to a felony based on a prior conviction.

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Anna man arrested, faces child porn charges

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, 3:25pm

Anna man arrested, faces child porn charges

ANNA, IL (KFVS) - The preliminary hearing has been set for an Anna man charged with aggravated child pornography.

Robert Joe Poff, 56, of Anna was charged with six counts of aggravated child pornography and one count of child pornography. He is being held in the Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro on $500,000 bond. The preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday, March 3 at 9 a.m. at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.

Poff is alleged to have possessed pornographic computer images and video of children under the age of 13. U.S. Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds says the offenses took place Poff's home on Lime Kiln Road in May 2009.

Edmonds says Poff was arrested on Monday, Feb. 6 after an investigation by the FBI and Illinois State Police.

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Two men plead guilty on meth charges

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Monday, February 6th, 2012, 1:20pm

JACKSON AND UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - Two Southern Illinois men pleaded guilty on Feb. 3 for meth charges.

Rodney D. Phelps, 40 of Grand Tower and Justin L Stokes, 31, of Anna pleaded guilty and admitted their involvement in the conspiracy to make meth. They will both face 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000 and five years supervised release.

According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, between 2009 and April 6, 2011, in Jackson, Union, Randolph and Williamson Counties, Phelps and Stokes were involved with others in the making and distribution of meth.

Wigginton says both Phelps and Stokes stole anhydrous ammonia several times.

Three co-defendants have previously received prison sentences ranging from 70 to 262 months for their roles in meth conspiracy. Wigginton says 13 co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

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