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Randolph County State's Attorney Case Updates

Posted January 09, 2015 10:00 pm

By Staff Report The Herald Tribune

Felony resolutions from January 2 to January 9.

People v. Lawrence C. Tyson:

On January 2, 36-year-old Lawrence C. Tyson, of Sparta, pled guilty before Judge Richard Brown to the offense of failure to register as a sex offender.

An agreement was not reached as to the sentence and Tyson will be sentenced before Judge Brown on February 2 at 1 p.m. Tyson admitted to not registering with the Sparta Police Department every 90 days as required by law, specifically during the summer of 2014.

A similar charge (not notifying of a change of address) was dismissed pursuant to the plea. "This is not the first time Mr. Tyson has failed to keep his registration requirements up to date," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "I feel the appropriate sentence would be a term in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

"The defense has a different idea and it will be up to Judge Brown to determine the appropriate sentence (ranging from probation to five years in DOC). This will be the fourth time Mr. Tyson has violated his registration requirements and I hope for a proportionate sentence to be handed out on February 2."

The Sparta Police Department handled the investigation.

People v. Phillip Boland:

On January 2, 49-year-old Phillip J. Boland, of Steeleville, pled guilty before Judge Brown to the offense of criminal damage to property over $300.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Boland was sentenced to two years of probation with a condition to seek mental health treatment and take medication as prescribed by a physician, ordered to stay away from three persons involved in the incident, thirty days in county jail and restitution in the amount of $867.77 to the victim.

The Percy Police Department, Steeleville Police Department and Randolph County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident occurring on May 24, 2014.

Boland admitted to damaging property of the victim by throwing a brick through the window of a residence.

"Mr. Boland has some mental health issues and spent some time in the Department of Human Services while the case was pending," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "I hope he takes his medicine and stays out of trouble. Most of all, I hope he leaves the people alone he has been ordered to leave alone.

"If he does and pays them back for the damage, I believe everyone will be happy. If he doesn't, we will have two years to punish him again."

People v. Thomas R. Tindal:

On January 5, 2015, the charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine precursors and manufacturing materials were dismissed on motion of the state.

"Mr. Tindal was picked up by federal authorities shortly after we initiated this case against him," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Mr. Tindal has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison on meth related charges.

That sentence exceeded the maximum penalty we could have given him on our state meth charges. Accordingly, we thank the federal authorities for picking up the case against him and we are glad to see yet another person involved in the meth trade receive a stiff penalty for being involved in this type of activity.

"Our local sheriff's office put a lot of time into this case and they should be commended for their efforts. While it may show a dismissal locally, this case was very much a success."

People v. Breat M. Walls:

On January 7, 25-year-old Breat M. Walls, of Marion, pled guilty to the offense of aggravated battery before Judge Brown.

Walls admitted to touching a female inappropriately on July 3, 2014. An agreement was not reached on the sentence and Judge Brown will determine the sentence at a hearing to be held on February 27 at 9 a.m. A charge of criminal sexual assault was dismissed pursuant to the plea. "We started having witness problems in this matter and took what we could get," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "I will be the first to admit at first blush it looks out of place to see a charge of criminal sexual assault dismissed, but we were forced to take what we could get due to a witness problem and will see what the judge does with sentencing."

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office investigated this matter.

People v. Stephen M. Stevenson:

On January 7, 59-year-old Stephen M. Stevenson, of Percy, pled guilty to the offense aggravated battery before Judge Brown.

An agreement was not reached on the sentence and Stevenson will be sentenced on February 27, at 9 a.m. Stevenson admitted to causing bodily harm to a victim by cutting the victim in the neck with a knife on September 27, 2014 in Chester.

"We will be seeking the maximum sentence provided by law of 10 years," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "Luckily the victim has recovered well in this matter, but it was a very serious incident and could have been a completely different outcome."

The Chester Police Department handled the investigation in this matter.

Joshua J. Robinson:

On January 7, 2015, 30-year-old Joshua J. Robison,of Percy, pled guilty of the offense of battery (reduced from a felony charge of battery) before Judge Brown.

Robinson was placed on probation for one year, given credit for 10 days in jail and will have to complete services through the Human Service Center as a condition of his probation.

"The injury to the victim was relatively insignificant in this matter, but the age of the victim (a juvenile) originally made the case a felony," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "After giving consideration to the circumstances of the case and the evidence we had to prosecute, we reduced the charge to a misdemeanor."

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office handled the investigation.

Jason G. Burgdorf:

On January 7, 27-year-old Jason G. Burgdorf, of Red Bud, pled guilty to the offense of obstructing a peace office before Judge Brown.

A charge of aggravated domestic battery was dismissed at the request of the complaining witness.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea, Burgdorf was placed on probation for one year and required to complete mental health and domestic violence counseling. Additionally, Burgdorf surrendered several firearms seized during his arrest by the Randolph County Sheriff's Department.

"This is case is a prime example of what happens when a victim becomes uncooperative," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker. "The victim in this case provided a statement to the defense indicating a different story than what she told the police.

"Additionally, the victim signed a document in my office indicating she was refusing to prosecute. We still have the ability to continue in the prosecuting when such a document is signed. However, when you start having contradictory statements, it becomes very difficult to prosecute.

"Nonetheless, we get a conviction and services the Defendant needed. Also, we help out the Sheriff's Office by getting some firearms that have value and can be used by them to help acquire property for the department."

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