On September 10, 2021, at 10:27 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Brian Naas conducted a traffic stop on a Blue 2007 Honda Van on US 41 near Haubstadt. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Naas ran the driver 28-year-old Patricia Brinson of Evansville through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle and discovered that Ms. Brinson’s license was suspended on a prior driving while suspended conviction. At that point Deputy Naas placed Ms. Brinson into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Ms. Brinson was charged with Driving While Suspended/Prior. She has since posted a $650 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Princeton man arrested for driving on a suspended license
On September 7, 2021, at 8:28 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Brian Naas conducted a traffic stop on a White 2001 Ford Van on US 41 near State Road 68. Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputy Naas identified the driver as 39-year-old Benjamin Sands of Princeton, Indiana. Upon running Mr. Sands through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Deputy Naas discovered that Mr. Sands was operating his vehicle while his driving privileges had been suspended on a prior driving while suspended conviction. At that point he placed Mr. Sands into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Driving While Suspended/Prior. He has since posted a $650 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Marching Aces Ready For 2021
Homecoming week at Mt. Carmel High School kicks off tomorrow with different events planned every day for students leading up to the parade and football game on Friday night and then the homecoming dance at the city park on Saturday. One of the busier groups this week will be the Marching Aces who will be in Friday afternoon’s parade and then perform their halftime show at the game that night. And, director Kim Mandrell says this year’s halftime show is a good one….
The Marching Aces competitive season starts October 2nd in Newton.
Photo credit: FlashMac Photography
2021 MCHS Homecoming Court
2021 MCHS Homecoming Court
Bottom Row L to R. Freshman a Attendant Kelsey Miller sophomore attendant Lily Keepes junior attendant Allyson Bobbitt then Queen Candidates Elizabeth Kasinger Lora Judge Maleah Armstrong and Kinze Cusick. Back Row is Freshman escort Eric Leffler. sophomore escort Gehrig Jones. Junior escort Timothy Rosignol. Senior attendants are Cooper Anderson. Caleb Woollard Andrew Goldman and Conner Adams
Queen Candidates. Left to Right Elizabeth Kasinger, Lora Judge, Maleah Armstrong and Kinze Cusick
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY DETAIL
CARMI– Illinois State Police (ISP) District 19 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announces the results of the School Zone Safety Detail conducted Aug. 9, 2021 thru Sept. 6, 2021. This detail provided extra patrol coverage for the ISP so officers could focus on school zone safety.
Violation
Enforcement Activity
Speeding – School Zone Citations
3
Speeding – School Zone Warnings
15
Safety Belt Citations
20
Safety Belt Warnings
30
Child Restraint Citations
4
Child Restraint Warnings
0
Wireless Phone – School Zone Citations
9
Wireless Phone – School Zone Warnings
5
Texting – School Zone Citations
4
Texting – School Zone Warnings
2
Other Charges - Citations
26
Other Charges- Warnings
81
Total Citations
66
Total Written Warnings
133
The Illinois State Police continues to encourage all drivers to practice safe driving and focus all of their attention on driving especially through a school zone and around school buses.
Clay County Crash Claims Life Of Fairview Heights Woman
ISP FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12
WHAT: Single Unit Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: South 1st Street at Industrial Park Road, Clay City, Clay County
WHEN: Sept. 11, 2021, at approximately 1:34 a.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1- 2007 Black Chevrolet Cobalt
DRIVERS: Unit 1- Misty J. Coughlin, 40-year-old female from Fairview Heights, IL (Deceased)
PRELIMINARY: A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling eastbound on South 1st Street in Clay City. For an unknown reason Unit 1 partially left the roadway to the right, overcorrected and struck a stump off the roadway to the left. Unit 1 then became airborne, overturned multiple times, and came to rest on its top. The driver of Unit 1 was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene. No further information is available at this time.
Corzine Gets 50 Years For Killing Jennifer Phelps
Ruben Corzine will spend the next 50 years in prison for killing his girlfriend last year.
In July, the 34-year-old Mt. Carmel man entered an open guilty plea to first degree murder for stabbing 41-year-old Jennifer Phelps at their residence at 909 Cherry Street on January 29th of 2020.
During a sentencing hearing this morning in Wabash County Circuit Court, Judge Kimbara Harrell granted a defense request to change Corzine’s plea from guilty to guilty but mentally ill. Public defender James Lane said the change would not affect the amount of time Corzine spends in prison, but would allow him to receive treatment for mental issues.
Evidence presented today indicated that Corzine sought treatment after saying he was hearing voices and suffering hallucinations. Corzine even sought help early the morning of the murder but checked himself out of the ER against the wishes of the physician according to Storckman.
Testifying at today’s hearing was Mt. Carmel Police Department telecommunicator Mary Sweppy who took Corzine’s 911 call the morning of the murder saying he had stabbed Phelps.
MCPD Sgt. Kyle Adams was the first officer on the scene and testified as to what he saw once Phelps was located in the northeast bedroom of the residence. Adams also said the investigation uncovered security video from Wagon Wheel, two blocks west of the murder scene, showing Corzine walking back and forth smoking a cigarette before he called 911 to report Phelps’ murder.
State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman speculated that after stabbing Phelps 37 times, Corzine then walked to Wagon Wheel to let his girlfriend die. She called it a “horribly, cruel, vicious attack”. Storckman asked Harrell to impose the maximum 60 year sentence saying Corzine is a “danger to the public”.
Witnesses called by the defense included probation officer Judy Lewis who answered questions from Lane about the pre-sentence investigation she prepared. Police chief Mike McWilliams also testified about a 2017 incident in which Corzine was arrested for shooting into the walls of a home. McWilliams also said Corzine told him he loved Phelps and regretted killing her during an interview after the murder.
Lane said he intended to call Corzine to testify during the sentencing hearing, but after a lunch break, said Corzine had changed his mind and would not testify or make a statement on his own behalf.
Several members of Phelps’ family filled the courtroom for today’s hearing including her sister Stephanie Umfleet who directed her comments to Corzine saying, “You took my baby sister..we’ll never get her back.”
Another sister, Deanna Woods, told Corzine, “You are a monster. You deserve to spend the rest of your life in prison”.
Harrell advised Corzine that under Illinois law, he will have to serve 100% of the 50 year sentence for first degree murder and then be on 3 years of parole after his release. He has 30 days to file an appeal in the case.
WSJD File Photo: Ruben Corzine is led back to the Wabash County Jail on July 15th after pleading guilty to killing his girlfriend in 2020.
Jury Trial Set In Case Of Accused Allendale Man
A May trial date has been set for an Allendale man charged with six sex crimes dating back two decades. 52 year old Adam Vaira is charged with two Class X felonies of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and four Class 2 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. During a video appearance yesterday in Wabash County Circuit Court, Vaira had a jury trial set for May 2nd. Pre-trial conferences in the case were set for November 18th, March 17th, and April 14th. The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between May of 2000 and January of 2007 with victims between 13 and 17 years old. Vaira has been free on a $30,000 cash bond since he turned himself in to authorities on May 5th of this year.
Candlelight Vigil Planned Tonight At Merchants Park
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and a candlelight vigil is planned for 8:00 tonight at Merchants Park. Mayor Joe Judge’s family has been affected by suicide and he is helping to plan the vigil…
Judge says it’s important to raise awareness to one critical point…
Again the candelight vigil starts tonight at 8 at Merchants Park.
EFFINGHAM MAN SENTENCED TO 58 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR MANUFACTURING COUNTERFEIT MONEY
EFFINGHAM, Ill. – An Effingham man was sentenced yesterday to four years and ten months in prison and a $1,000 fine for manufacturing counterfeit money.
According to court documents, counterfeit bills manufactured by Jared Sapp, 29, were recovered in Madison, St. Clair, and Effingham counties, and as far away as Colorado. Sapp’s counterfeiting dates back to at least 2016. A number of businesses in Effingham, Illinois reported in 2017 and 2018 that they had been paid counterfeit money that was later traced back to Sapp. Sapp would also use counterfeit money to pay for used goods on websites or applications like “letgo.com” and “craigslist.com.” All told, law enforcement recovered at least 201 counterfeit bills manufactured by Sapp with a total face value of $4,715.00. The operation came to an end when Sapp was arrested in April 2020 with two printer/scanners and a pile of counterfeit $20s in the trunk of his car.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Effingham City Police Department, the Granite City Police Department, and the Caseyville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Reed prosecuted the case.