PERRY CO.—One of the multiple defendants in the brutal Sidnee Stephens murder case in Pinckneyville has been released.
Sidnee Stephens
Charges of First Degree Murder, Home Invasion and Burglary against Chad Bennett, 23, were dismissed this week after Perry County’s prosecutor, David Stanton, opted not to prosecute and dismissed the counts nolle pros (for want of prosecution) today, 08.22.13, a day before the man was set to go to trial.
James Glazier
Stanton issued as the basis of the nolle pros the fact that he could not get three witnesses to testify against Bennett. Bryan Drew, Bennett’s attorney, of course took credit for the dismissal of charges, which was accomplished after a motion Drew filed stated that James Glazier, Robbie Mueller and Dakota Wall “refused to testify…even though they were granted immunity from prosecution” for their alleged part in the case.
The dismissal was done without prejudice, however, meaning that Stanton has “leave to refile” the charges against Bennett as long at it’s within the statutory window of the lesser charges (on the murder charges, there is no statute of limitations, so they could be refiled at any time Stanton, or any other prosecutor, believes it an opportune time to do so.)
Robbie Mueller
Stephens, 15 at the time, was taken from her home three years ago last month and choked to unconsciousness, shot to death, and her body left near Beaucoup Creek Bridge, where it was found by men fishing in the creek on July 25, 2010.
Glazier, 20, has already been convicted and is serving 60 years for his part in the girl’s murder. Mueller as well has been convicted and sentenced to 37 years for his part.
Carl Dane ended his conviction in 2011 when he committed suicide in his cell before being transferred to DOC.
Wall still is facing a First Degree Murder/Accountability charge, as well as Kidnapping, Home Invasion and Burglary, and is set for a November jury trial. Whether this will occur or not remains to be seen. Wall, incidentally, is Stephens’ half-sister. She and Bennett were arrested in October 2012.