The Weekly Post public record for 3-16-23

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Elmwood man faces sexual abuse charges
• PEORIA – A 69-year-old Elmwood man faces between three and seven years in prison if convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Robert R. Arnold was indicted and arraigned last week in Peoria County Circuit Court. He pleaded not guilty and was being held in the Peoria County Jail on $75,000 bond. He needed to post $7,500 to be released.
According to the indictment, Arnold is accused of knowingly committing sexual conduct with someone at least 13 years of age but younger than 17. A trial was set for 9:30 a.m. May 8.

Police reports
• PEORIA – An Elmwood man was accused of stealing a vehicle by force, according to Peoria County Circuit Court documents.

Jose R. DeJesus, 31, was to be arraigned today, March 16. DeJesus was being held in the Peoria County Jail on $100,000 bond. He needed to post $10,000 to be released.

A grand-jury indictment last week accused DeJesus of stealing a Mercedes-Benz from a man in the 1200 block of N. Underhill St. in Peoria. If convicted, DeJesus might face 4-15 years in prison.

• FARMINGTON – More than $3,000 in cash was reported stolen from a Farmington restaurant.
Police were summoned about 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 to Farmington Pizza Co., 1200 E. Fort St. The owner said he was last to leave the restaurant the previous night, about 11:30. When he returned, he noticed money was missing from a cash register, a kitchen safe and from plastic bags on a desk upstairs.
The register had been pried open and a rear outer door was unlocked, according to a Farmington Police Department report.

• FARMINGTON – A Mapleton woman was accused of multiple crimes, including drunken driving, after smashing her vehicle into a Farmington house. Jenny L. Buckley, 50, was transported to Graham Hospital in Canton after the incident. It took place shortly before 12:30 p.m. Feb. 27 near Oak and Court streets, according to the Farmington Police Department.

Officers found a 2019 blue Chevrolet sport-utility vehicle with its rear against a house in the 100 block of N. Oak St. Buckley was behind the wheel but was incoherent, a police report stated.

A witness said the SUV struck another vehicle, then struck the front of a boat trailer. The impact pushed the trailer into a van. Buckley then backed up through grass, struck two traffic-control signs and stopped when her vehicle hit the house.

Someone inside the house said the impact was enough to knock him to the ground, according to the report.
Buckley told rescue personnel she had neck and back pain and had been drinking alcohol, according to the report. At the hospital, Buckley said she didn’t remember hitting vehicles, hitting a house or being in Farmington. She believed she was in Peoria, not Canton, the report stated.

In addition to driving under the influence, Buckley was accused of reckless driving and illegal transportation of alcohol. She is to appear March 31 in Fulton County Circuit Court in Lewistown.

• EDWARDS – Robert W. Markham, 45, of Edwards was arrested for violating an order of protection. Markham called and/or emailed two people he is not supposed to contact, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. A deputy took Markham into custody about 5:45 p.m. March 11, but Peoria County Jail officials would not admit him. Markham said he had taken cocaine, morphine and a tranquilizer, among other substances.

Instead, Markham was transported to UnityPoint Health-Methodist in Peoria. Markham was given a notice to appear April 19 in Peoria County Circuit Court.

• FARMINGTON – Kayla S. Wiser, 32, of Farmington reported to city police about 2 p.m. Feb. 23 on a Fulton County warrant for driving on a suspended license. Wiser posted $500 bond and was released with a notice to appear at 9 a.m. March 29 in Fulton County Circuit Court.

• FARMINGTON – Magic T. Stobaugh, 27, of Chillicothe reported to city police about 4 p.m. Feb. 23 on a Fulton County warrant for battery. Stobaugh posted $150 bond and was released with a notice to appear at 9 a.m. March 29 in Fulton County Circuit Court.

• FARMINGTON – Tabitha E. Clift, 30, of Farmington was arrested about 3:15 a.m. March 9 and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.

• ELMWOOD – Chief Aaron Bean reported the following Elmwood Police Department activity for February: Eight reports, five traffic stops, four warnings and two citations.

• YATES CITY – Chief Randy Benson reported the following activity for the Yates City Police Department in February: 2 arrests, 2 citations, 8 warnings, 9 traffic stops, 1 ordinance violation, 1 open door and 15 reports.

• HANNA CITY – A Hanna City man damaged the screens of two televisions in a residence he shares with another man, according to authorities.

William A. Tillman, 40, was arrested after the incident, which took place about 9:15 p.m. March 2 in the 400 block of N. Carole Ave.

Total damage estimate was $750.

There were different accounts about what happened, but Tillman was accused of criminal damage to property and was transported to the Peoria County Jail. He was being held without bond. Tillman also was wanted in Tazewell County for criminal damage to government property.

• HANNA CITY – A truck driver accused another driver of causing more than $1,500 in damage to his vehicle. The truck driver said his vehicle was backed into about 8 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Refuel, 12910 W. Farmington Rd. in Hanna City. The truck driver gave a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy the name of an alleged offender.
According to a sheriff’s-office report, the Dodge truck sustained a large dent and scratches on its passenger side.