News from the Courthouse

Cases in Mercer County Court that took place the week of Nov. 23-27, 2020:

   Tanner Weig, 26, of Aledo appeared in custody in Mercer County Court and pleaded guilty Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 to burglary (Class 2 felony), based on a 2020 arrest.  In a fully negotiated disposition Weig was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with two years of mandatory supervised release upon leaving prison. He also was fined $75. He will receive credit for 89 actual days served in Mercer County Jail. The incident that brought Weig to court was a break-in of an Aledo storage unit from which several firearms were taken. The guns were found in his home during an authorized  search. Appeal rights were given. Two additional charges were dismissed: felon in possession/use of weapon/firearm and possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine, both Class 3 felonies.

   Chad Huston, 32, of New Boston, appeared in custody in Mercer County Court Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 and pleaded guilty to two theft related charges, both Class two felonies. One involved possession of a stolen truck, the second involved a burglary from coin operated machines found at the Keithsburg car wash. He was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the first burglary and five consecutive years for the second burglary, plus two consecutive mandatory fines of $75. Credit for 47 actual days served in Mercer County Jail will go towards fulfilling the sentences. As part of a global plea agreement a number of charges were dismissed including delivery of less than five grams of methamphetamine (Class 2 felony), meth delivery 5-15 grams (Class 1 felony), (two counts -- felon possess/use weapon/firearm (Class 3 felonies), display unauthorized identification (two counts --  Class A misdemeanors), driving on suspended license (two counts --  Class A misdemeanors), two counts of being unlicensed (traffic charges). The sentence required consecutive times to be served because the defendant was out of jail on bond when the second burglary occurred. Appeal rights were given. A restitution hearing will be set up after Huston serves his sentence.

   Luke Haviland, 22, of Aledo, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, to delivery of less than five grams of methamphetamine (( Class 2 felony), reduced from a Class 1 felony charge of meth delivery 5-15 grams. In a fully negotiated plea agreement he was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, $75 fine and two years of mandatory supervised release. Several charges were dismissed including: two petitions to revoke probation (was deemed unsuccessful); harassment/threaten to kill a person (Class 4 felony); driving on a revoked license (Class A misdemeanor) and a traffic charge of no license. He will be given credit for 42 days (21 actual days served) and is to turn himself in to the Mercer County Jail on Jan. 1, 2021 at noon. Appeal rights were given.