Major drug bust results in 7 guilty pleas to date

[November 11, 2013]  Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan C. Wright provided the following news release related to the June 2013 drug arrests by the Logan County Sheriff's Department.

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The Logan County Sheriff's Department concluded a significant drug investigation in June 2013 by arresting 19 individuals. To date, seven of those individuals have pled guilty and been sentenced:

• Miranda D. Reynolds entered into a fully negotiated plea agreement in Logan County Case No. 13 CF 137 and was sentenced to five (5) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class 3 felony.

• Timothy A. Ballard entered into a fully negotiated plea agreement in Logan County Case No. 13 CF 141 and was sentenced to four and one-half (4½) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class 2 felony.

• Wendy J. Helton was sentenced to five and one-half (5½) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in Logan County Case No. 13-CF-154. Wendy Helton pled guilty to three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, each a class 2 felony, and was sentenced by the Honorable William Yoder, Associate Circuit Court Judge.

• John M. Beck was sentenced to five (5) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in Logan County Case No. 13-CF-139. John Beck pled guilty to one count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class 2 felony, and was sentenced by the Honorable William Yoder, Associate Circuit Court Judge.

• Stasha J. Sanders was sentenced to three (3) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in Logan County Case No. 13-CF-146. Stasha Sanders pled guilty to three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Two counts were a class 2 felony and one count was a class 3 felony. The Honorable William Yoder, Associate Circuit Court Judge, sentenced Ms. Sanders to three years on the class 2 felonies and two years on the class 3 felony. Each sentence to run concurrent to the other.

• Regina A. Richmond was sentenced to 30 months of probation and 180 days in the Logan County Jail in Logan County Case No. 13-CF-148. Regina Richmond pled guilty to one count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class 3 felony.
  The Honorable William A. Yoder sentenced Ms. Richmond to probation with drug and alcohol conditions based, in part, upon her lack of prior criminal history.

• Karmalisha D. Duncan was sentenced to 30 months of probation and 180 days in the Logan County Jail in Logan County Case No. 13-CF-148. Karmalisha Duncan pled guilty to one count of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a class 3 felony.
  The Honorable William A. Yoder sentenced Ms. Duncan to probation with drug and alcohol conditions based, in part, upon her lack of prior criminal history.

"Illegal drugs are destroying lives and families in our community. These sentences send a strong message that individuals who deliver those illegal drugs will suffer serious consequences for their criminal conduct," said Jonathan Wright.

"Heroin and cocaine are on the rise in this community. My hope is that the sentences imposed on these individuals will deter others from delivering illegal drugs. We will continue to investigate and arrest individuals trafficking drugs in Logan County," said Steve Nichols, Logan County Sheriff.

Each of the individuals arrested in June of this year who still have pending cases are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jonathan C. Wright
Logan County State's Attorney

[Text from file received from Logan County State's Attorney Jonathan C. Wright]