WILLIAMSON CO., Ill. - The weekend has arrived…and that means that for Williamson County, it’s time for Felony Friday!
Felonies charged
Timothy Fortman, 58 of Herrin, is charged with Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance. Authorities say Fortman knowingly possessed with intent to deliver more than one gram but less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine (file says 7 grams, specifically). Fortman was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a cracked windshield. Fortman is free on a $1,000 cash bond. Arresting agency was MPDNU assisted by two Marion Police patrolmen.
Michael D. Skorch, 29 of Pinkneyville, is charged with one count Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, which charge alleges that he knowingly and unlawfully had in his possession less than 15 grams buprenorphine an opioid medication used to treat opioid addiction. It’s also prescribed to treat pain and comes under several brand names.
Count 2, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, states he knowingly and unlawfully had in his possession less than 15 grams aloprazolam (Xanax).
Count 3, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance, states he knowingly had in his possession less than 15 milligram of clonazepam (Klonopin).
Count 4, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, states he knowingly and unlawfully had more than 30 but less than 100 grams.
Skorch was the passenger in a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Mercedes L. Hill of West Frankfort. Hill was stopped by Herrin Police for failure to stop at a couple of stop signs. Hill’s driver’s license had allegedly expired as well as the insurance. Source tell us the vehicle belongs to her grandparents. Grandfather is deceased and the grandmother doesn’t drive. The vehicle was towed and Hill was ticketed. Two more Herrin officers arrived as backup. During an inventory of the vehicle before being towed, a duffel bag and backpack were located inside the vehicle. Skorch claimed they were his. Inside is where the alleged drugs were found. Also in the bag were allegedly brass knuckles, two sets of digital scales, sandwich baggies, airtight food saver bags as well as an airtight food saver vacuum. He is free on a $5,000 recog bond.
A second passenger didn’t have anything on him except maybe a brown spot in his underwear and since it’s highly unlikely they checked for that, he was let go (no field-testing for brown spots, apparently).
Sandra F. Johnson of Goreville has been charged with Deceptive Practice. Over a three-day period she is accused of writing three checks totaling $213.03 to the same grocery store. She has an April court appearance.
Amanda L. Triplett of Herrin is also charged with Deceptive Practice. She wrote a $200 check to play Bingo at a Herrin establishment. Attempts to collect the check were unsuccessful. She too has an April court appearance.
Dawn Rita
Dawn Rita, 47 of Marion, was picked up March 1 on a warrant for Failure to Appear at February 28 court date. She is in the Williamson County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond. Sources tell us that for the past seven years she has been cashing her deceased uncle’s social security checks and pension checks, opening several accounts and even enlisting the help of others to cash the checks. Once social security was notified and the checks stopped, she continued to open up bogus accounts under assumed names. Her most recent charges include nine counts of Forgery, Identity Theft and Theft With Control. Rita is accused of even going as far as paying a postal employee not to deliver mail when her children’s father was home. She has charges in Massac County as well. On her most recent court visit there she is accused of going to O’Reilley’s and writing a check on the deceased uncle’s account for a $176 pump and then returned it to O’Reilley’s in Marion for the cash. Rita has a history of writing bad checks in Williamson County all the way back to 2005. Congratulations to the Marion Police Department detective who has worked diligently in bringing her to justice. Our sources tell us mommy won’t bail her out of this one.
Jonathan L. Mattingly, 35 of Herrin is charged with 2 Counts Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (1) Hydrocodone (2) Clonazepram. Other charges include Speeding and Illegal Transportation of Alcohol. He is waiting an April court appearance. Arrest made by Energy police.
Thomas J. Hardy, 34 of Marion, is charged with Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance. According to court files, a Marion Police Officer observed Hardy coming in the opposite lane at what appeared to be a higher rate of speed than the posted sign, the officer turned on his rear radio and sure enough, Hardy was going 11 miles over. The officer made a U-ie and observed him swerve into the parking lane several times as he followed him to his apartment building’s parking lot. Hardy exited the car and was stumbling and could barely stand. The officer told Hardy several times to return to his car. Hardy disobeyed, telling the officer he was deaf. The officer noted in the file he had previously stopped Hardy within the past week and he seemed to hear him perfectly. The officer detected alcohol on Hardy’s breath and asked how much he had to drink; Hardy said “not much.” The officer ask for specifics; Hardy said two beers and he had quit drinking two hours ago. Then he began growling at the officer. Hardly was wobbly and nearly fell to the ground until the officer grabbed him. He was placed into custody and his vehicle placed on a 36-hour hold. During a search, 6 round Xanax were allegedly found in his possession. All charges include Speeding, two counts of DUI Alcohol, Improper Lane Usage, and Possession of Controlled Substance.
Michael A. Gourley, 42 of Herrin, is charged with Residential Burglary.
Dustin M. Avery, 26 of Creal Springs, has been charged with Attempt (Burglary), Criminal Damage to Property over $500 and Possession of Burglary Tools. He and a female companion (she was the lookout) were identified through video footage attempting to pry open various coin-operated machines in a laundromat using wire cutters and a crowbar, needle nose pliers, punches and a hammer. Those items were seized and the two admitted their participation.
Christopher E. Gibbs, 27 of Metropolis is charged with Theft/Library Material.
Jeremy M. May, 39 of Harrisburg, is charged with Theft/Control/Intent.
Andrew J. Whitlock, 27 of Marion, is charged with Meth Delivery less than 5 grams.
Janaesha M. Yarbrough, 21 of Herrin, is charged with Possession of Controlled Substance
Joseph C. Graziano is charged with Child Sex Offender/Residing 500 feet and Loitering within 500 feet of a park. He’s in the Williamson County Jail with no bail.
Felony Dispositions
Nicholas W. Rodgers, 27 of Mt. Carmel plead Guilty to a Class 3 felony of Theft/Control under $500. He received 30 months conditional discharge and 364 days in jail with credit for 305 days served. A Residential Burglary charge was dismissed. He owes $873 in fines. Rodgers has been locked up in the Williamson County Jail since April 28 of 2017. He’s facing new charges of Burglary to a church that we mentioned in last week’s Felony Friday. Marion PD is responsible for all of Rodgers’ arrests.
Cody G. Feezor, 29 of Herrin, was found Guilty of Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapon/Vehicle. He received 3 days in jail with credit for time served and 24 months conditional discharge. A Possession of Methamphetamine charge under 5 grams was dismissed.