Former Illinois Principal Sentenced For Embezzlement

Smithton, Ill. – Roy Joseph Monti, 54, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced last week to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of home detention. The former principal of St. John the Baptist Elementary School in Smithton, Illinois, pleaded guilty back in September to one count of interstate transportation of stolen money. He will serve an additional 18 months of supervised release following his home confinement.

According to court documents, from March 2017 to November 2019, Monti used his position as the school’s principal to embezzle $113,061.87 from the school’s bank account. He attempted to cover up the thefts by noting purportedly valid expenses on the withdrawal slips, which turned out to be false and fraudulent. Because he lived in Missouri while working in Illinois, Monti often carried large amounts of the stolen cash across state lines, which is a federal felony.

As part of his sentence, the federal district court ordered Monti to make full restitution to the school.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Smithton Police Department.

Trucker Seriously Injured In Wayne County I-64 Crash

ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police

District 19

WHAT:                      Single Vehicle Personal Injury Traffic Crash

WHERE:                   Interstate 64 Westbound Milepost 108, Wayne County

WHEN:                      Dec. 14, 2020 at approximately 8:12 p.m.

VEHICLE:                Unit 1- 2021 Freightliner Truck Tractor Semi Trailer Combination

DRIVER:                   Unit 1- Brian Pillow, 57-year-old male from Carlyle, IL – Flown to a Regional Hospital with life-threatening injuries

PRELIMINARY:       A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred:  Unit 1 was traveling west on Interstate 64 near milepost 108 in Wayne County. Unit 1 suffered a blow out of the driver side steer tire. The driver of Unit 1 lost control and left the roadway to the left, entering the median and striking a group of trees. The driver of Unit 1 was flown to a Regional Hospital with life threatening injuries.

Evansville man arrested on DUI charge

On December 12, 20202, at 11:20 p.m. Gibson County Sheriff’s Sergeant John Fischer of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling US 41 when he observed a Black 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan make several unsafe lane movements. Sergeant Fischer initiated a traffic stop at the Loves Truck Stop located at US 41 and County Road 1250 South. Upon approaching the vehicle, he identified the driver as 51-year-old John W. Cates of Evansville. While speaking with Mr. Cates Sergeant Fischer detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver and began a roadside DUI investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation, he placed Mr. Cates into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail Mr. Cates was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. He has since posted a $650 bond.

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

911 call leads to arrest of Princeton woman on multiple charges

On December 13, 2020, at 7:24 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a disturbance occurring near the post office in Francisco. Several officers were dispatched to the scene, and upon arriving officers found 25-year-old Adrian Myers of Princeton sitting in a nearby yard. When officers began to speak with Ms. Myers they detected signs of impairment and could not stand up without falling. While attempting to conduct an investigation into the disturbance call Ms. Myers was angry and loud while speaking with the officers, and at one point threw a cigarette lighter at one of the deputies. At the conclusion of their roadside investigation Deputy Brian Naas placed Ms. Myers into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail Ms. Myers was charged with Battery on a Public Official, Resisting Law Enforcement, Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct. She remains in custody on a $750 bond.

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Princeton man arrested on Invasion of Privacy charge

On December 14, 2020, at 5 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch was contacted by a reporting party and asked to have an officer go to Caniff Trailer Court and speak with an individual. Upon arriving on scene Sergeant John Fischer spoke with a female who advised that she had a restraining order against 35-year-old Brandon Winn of Princeton and she believed he had broke that order by making contact with her. At that point Sergeant Fischer opened an investigation and went to speak with Mr. Winn about the matter. At the conclusion of his investigation Sergeant Fischer placed Mr. Winn into custody and arrested him for Invasion of Privacy and Resisting Law Enforcement. He remains in custody on a $650 bond.

Assisting Sgt. Fischer in his investigation was Deputy Garrett Tuley and Princeton Officers Ben Kiesel, Sgt. Travis Lashbrook, and Craig Zurliene.

All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Warrant service leads to arrest of three on drug charges

On December 14, 2020, at 12:26 p.m. Officers from the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office and Princeton Police Department went to 922 West Short Street in Princeton, Indiana to execute an arrest warrant on 27-year-old Emily McInerney. The Felony warrant was for Possession of Cocaine, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Upon arriving at the residence Deputy U.B. Smith knocked on the door and Ms. McInerney opened the door. Upon opening the door an overwhelming odor of burnt Marijuana exited the residence. At that point Ms. McInerney was explained that there was a warrant for her arrest. Deputy Smith asked all the persons inside the residence to come to the front room and a search warrant was obtained for the residence.

After a search of the residence was conducted Ms. McInerney, 18-year-old Addison Apodaca of Evansville, and 20-year-old Heaven Ingle of Princeton were taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. Upon arriving at the Jail the females were charged as follows:

Emily A. McInerney, age 27 was arrested on the outstanding warrant and faces new charges for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Marijuana. She has since posted a $1400 bond.

Addison E. Apodaca, age 18 was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance. She remains in custody on a $650 bond.

Heaven L. Ingle, age 20 was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. She has since posted a $650 bond.

Arresting Officer: U.B. Smith
Assisting Officers: Deputy Jennifer Loesch, and Princeton Officers Nefti Padilla and Jason Swan.

Jared Alka Resigns From District #348 School Board

There’s a vacancy on the Wabash District #348 school board after Jared Alka resigned his seat on the board today. In a letter read by board president Tim Schuler at tonight’s school board meeting, Alka said he was resigning because of “several personal reasons”. Schuler thanked Alka for his service to the board. No replacement was announced for the remainder of Alka’s that expires next Spring.

Rudy Witsman Announces Retirement As Mt. Carmel City Clerk

Near the conclusion of this evening’s Mt. Carmel City Council meeting, City Clerk Rudy Witsman announced his retirement effective June 1st, 2021….

Rudy Witsman announces his retirement as Mt. Carmel City Clerk at this evening’s City Council meeting.

Mt. Carmel Man Arrested On Aggravated Domestic Battery Charge

From Wabash County Sheriff Derek Morgan: On 12.12.20 at 0228 hrs. the Wabash County Sheriff's Office responded to an address on E 870 Rd. reference a domestic battery. The caller advised all other persons in the residence were locked in a room and safe at the moment but were unaware of the whereabouts of the alleged aggressor. When the deputy arrived he spoke to the caller and other persons whom sought shelter within a locked room. After the investigation 41 year old Joshua Horrall of Mt. Carmel was taken into custody. Horrall and charged with Aggravated Domestic battery with strangulation along with resisting arrest. Today, Horrall made an appearance in Wabash County Circuit Court via Zoom, where he was advised of his charges and bond was set at $2,500 cash. Horrall later posted bond and was released from the Wabash County Jail. 

WVC Holiday Break Schedule

As a reminder, Wabash Valley College will be closing early at 12 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, and will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 through Jan. 4, 2021 for Winter Break.

There will be no classes and all offices will be closed. The Red Café will also be closed during this time. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021.

Small World will remain open, operating under normal business hours. Small World will be closed on Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and Jan. 1 in observance of the holidays.

Classes will resume on Jan. 11, 2021. Classes will resume in a face-to-face learning format unless otherwise noted.