SALINE CO., Ill. - Saline County's new State's Attorney, Molly Wilson Kasiar, hit the ground running when she took office in December, and the January sentencings show that she's ready and willing to clear the court's docket and get on with justice in Saline.
Here are the January 2019 sentencings in Saline County Circuit Court. Unless otherwise noted, Judge Walden Morris was the sentencing judge. Hotlinks on the names take you to the original stories, if available, telling how these crims got in the fixes they were in.
Jeremy May, 39 of Harrisburg, was sentenced on Jan. 3 to 3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to be followed by a year of parole on his Attempted Burglary count.
Kain Brown, 20 of Eldorado, was sentenced Jan 4 to 5 years in IDOC, followed by 2 years of parole in his Residential Burglary case.
Zachary Ward, 27 of Harrisburg, was sentenced on Jan. 7 to 3 years in IDOC and a year of parole following release on his Meth Possession charge.
Michael Wright, 21 of Marion, was sentenced on Jan. 7 to 3 years in IDOC followed by 2 years of parole on a Possession of a Stolen Firearm count.
Malaina Foster, 32 of Harrisburg, was sentenced Jan. 8 to 3 years in IDOC to be followed by 2 years parole for Bringing Contraband into a Penal Institution (Violation of Probation).
Matthew Rushing, 34 of Ozark, was sentenced Jan. 9 to 3 years in IDOC followed by a year of parole for the offense of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Violation of Probation).
James Branch, 55 of Harrisburg, was sentenced Jan. 14 to 24 years in IDOC followed by 3 years to natural life parole for the offense of Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child.
Michael Litherland, 66 of Golconda, was sentenced Jan. 18 to 3 years in IDOC followed by a year of parole for the offense of Deceptive Practice.
Nathan Baker, 31 of Eldorado, was sentenced Jan. 22 to 4 years in IDOC followed by a year of parole for Theft Under $500/Enhanced Sentence (Violation of Probation) Baker has a second case and was sentenced to 10 years in IDOC and 3 years of parole for Burglary. A third case got Baker sentenced to 4 yeas in IDOC and a year of parole for Criminal Trespass to an Occupied Residence.
Ashley Collins, 32 of Goreville, was sentenced Jan. 22 to 3 years IDOC and a year of parole for Meth Possession.
Joshua Hurst, 37 of Harrisburg, was sentenced Jan. 22 to 4 years IDOC and a year of parole on a Violation of Probation on a Meth Possession count. A second case resulted in a sentence of 4 years IDOC and a year of parole, also for Meth Possession; and a third case resulted in the same sentence for a Probation Violation on a Burglary charge.
Robert Harrelson, 50 of Eldorado, was sentenced Jan. 25 by Judge Todd Lambert to 2 years in IDOC and a year of parole to follow for the offense of Meth Possession. A second case Harrelson was facing resulted in 4 years IDOC and a year of parole, this also for Meth Possession.
And Anthony Arrington, 20 of Chicago, was sentenced Jan. 30 to 5 years IDOC and 2 years parole for an Aggravated Battery case. A second case, also on an Agg Batt charge, got him the same sentence, which are likely being served concurrently.