Sturgeon Sentenced to 45 Years Prison for Methamphetamine Convictions

[November 21, 2016]  On November 16, 2016, Associate Judge William Workman held a sentencing hearing for Donald E. Sturgeon for convictions entered after a September jury trial. In September of this year, a Logan County jury found Sturgeon guilty of the following offenses: Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing, a Class X Felony; Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors, a Class 2 Felony; and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Deliver, a Class 2 Felony.

The convictions and sentence stem from a January 14, 2016 investigation by the Lincoln Police Department at 1006 7TH Street, Lincoln, Illinois. Officers apprehended Donald E. Sturgeon outside that residence. Initially, Donald E. Sturgeon fled from police throwing a vial containing methamphetamine. Pursuant to a search incident to arrest, officers discovered over 30 grams of pseudoephedrine (a substance used to manufacture methamphetamine) on Sturgeon’s person. Inside the residence of 1006 7TH Street, officers located an active methamphetamine lab in a room where Sturgeon was staying.

The jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald E. Sturgeon participated in the manufacture of at least 400 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine and that the manufacturing took place within 1,000 feet of Jefferson Elementary School. The jury also found beyond a reasonable doubt that Sturgeon possessed at least 30 grams of a methamphetamine precursor with the intent that it be used to manufacture a substance containing methamphetamine, and that Sturgeon possessed with the intent to deliver a substance containing methamphetamine.

For the offenses of Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors, Associate Judge William Workman sentenced Donald E. Sturgeon to 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The law requires that Sturgeon serve 75% of the 45 year prison sentence before becoming eligible for mandatory supervised release (formerly known as parole).

For the offense of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Associate Judge William Workman sentenced Donald E. Sturgeon to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. All three prison sentences, pursuant to law, will run concurrent to each other.

At the time of these offenses Donald E. Sturgeon was on mandatory supervised release (formerly known as parole) from the Illinois Department of Corrections for two Class X Felony drug convictions – one conviction out of DeWitt County and another conviction out of Macon County.

“The Court sentenced Mr. Sturgeon to a lengthy term of prison in part because of Mr. Sturgeon’s significant criminal history but also to deter others from committing these types of offenses. The message of deterrence is very clear: the production and delivery of methamphetamine is an offense that will bring very serious consequences,” stated Jonathan Wright, Logan County State’s Attorney.