Mitchell negotiates plea for Class 2 Felony, sentenced to prison
Last of 11 arrested in 2016 on charges related to manufacture of illegal drugs

[April 12, 2017]  On March 29, 2017, Judge William Workman accepted a fully negotiated plea sending Beverly Mitchell to the Department of Corrections for committing the offense of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors, a Class 2 Felony. Mitchell’s case was the last remaining open case involving 11 individuals who were indicted by a Grand Jury and subsequently arrested in the early months of 2016 for their involvement in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

Every one of the 11 persons that were indicted has now been convicted of felonies for either Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing, Unlawful Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors, or Unlawful Use of Property. These convictions have resulted in sentences that have combined for 106 total years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

These convictions could not have been possible without the hard work and extremely well conducted investigations completed by Lincoln Police Department and the Illinois State Police Meth Response Team.

The investigation began when law enforcement learned that several of the persons involved were purchasing large amounts of pseudoephedrine, an ingredient used to manufacture methamphetamine. Law enforcement conducted surveillance on a house where they believed methamphetamine was being manufactured and eventually approached Donald Sturgeon, one of the individuals involved. Sturgeon attempted to flee from law enforcement and discarded a vial containing methamphetamine. Pursuant to a search incident to arrest, law enforcement discovered over 30 grams of pseudoephedrine on Sturgeon’s person. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the residence located at 1006 7TH Street, Lincoln, Illinois. Inside the residence law enforcement located an active methamphetamine lab in one of the bedrooms.

The individuals who were convicted, the offenses for which they were convicted, and their sentences are:

• Ashley Davis: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors: 7 Years Department of Corrections

• Joshua Davis: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors: 48 months Probation

• Skyler Dyer: Unlawful Methamphetamine Conspiracy: 12 years Department of Corrections

• Jerry England: Unlawful Methamphetamine Conspiracy: 12 years Department of Corrections

• Robyn Johnson: Unlawful Use of Property: 3 years Department of Corrections

• Brandon Lovelett: Unlawful Methamphetamine Conspiracy: 16 years Department of Corrections

• Rodney Lovelett: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors: 5 ½ years Department of Corrections

• Beverly Mitchell: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors: 5 ½ years Department of Corrections

• Ruby Scott: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors: 30 months Probation

• Sarah Shelby: Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors: 48 months Probation

• Donald Sturgeon: Aggravated Unlawful Participation in Methamphetamine Manufacturing; Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors; and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver: 45 years Department of Corrections

Prosecuting those who poison this community with illegal drugs remains a priority with the State’s Attorney’s Office and is taken very seriously.

[Jonathan C. Wright
Logan County State’s Attorney]