On 11.01.23 the Wabash County Sheriff's office and Mt. Carmel Police Department received a call that a stolen American Freight box truck had a tracking device on it and was southbound on Highway 1 from the St. Francisville area. Units from both agencies headed toward the area and located the stolen vehicle on the lot of Mt. Carmel Stabilization's Training center on the west side of highway 1. It appeared the vehicle was offloading furniture onto another .
WCSO & MCPD performed a felony stop in the parking lot and took 3 individuals into custody. John M. Planinsek Jr. 37 of Rockdale, IL, Melissa M. Ferguson, 34 of New Lenox, IL, and Stanley D. Cochran Jr., 54 of Braidwood, IL were all charged with Possession of a Converted vehicle amongst other charges. A second vehicle involved, a Ford F350 K&N Steel truck out of St.Louis, Mo. was also found to be stolen.
All three are lodged in the Wabash County Jail awaiting a detention hearing under the pre-trial fairness act.
John M. Planinsek Jr. 37 of Rockdale, IL
Melissa M. Ferguson, 34 of New Lenox, IL