Mt. Carmel Police Chief Mike McWilliams said his department conducted sex offender compliance checks around the city yesterday. He said those on the sex offender were reminded not to turn their porch lights last night to attract trick or treaters. McWilliams said of those checked, one sex offender may have been out of compliance, but they are still trying to verify that fact.
WABASH COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH DISSEMINATION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a Mt. Carmel, Illinois man was charged with the alleged dissemination of child pornography. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online.
Alexander Knotts, 22, was charged in the Wabash County Circuit Court with five counts of dissemination of child pornography, Class X felonies, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines. Knotts’ bond was set at $750,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 31.
“I applaud the collaborative work of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Mt. Carmel Police Department in this case. My office is committed to tracking down the individuals responsible for exploiting children, often leaving them with emotional scars,” Raoul said. “This perpetrator can now be held accountable for the horrific crimes he committed against innocent children.”
Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Mt. Carmel Police Department, conducted a search of Knotts’ residence Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the 200 block of East 12th St. in Mt. Carmel and arrested him after discovering evidence of child pornography.
“The Mt. Carmel Police Department will continue to work aggressively towards investigating crimes that exploit children, which includes forming partnerships with agencies such as the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, so all available resources are utilized to protect innocent children,” said Mt. Carmel Police Department Chief of Police Michael McWilliams.
Attorney General Raoul’s office will prosecute the case with assistance from Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelly Storckman’s office.
“I am thankful for the work of the Attorney General's office and their commitment to the safety of our community’s children,” Storckman said. “I look forward to working with them in the prosecution of this case.”
The public is reminded the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The arrest is part of Attorney General Raoul’s work to investigate and prosecute child pornographers in Illinois. Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2021, reports to the ICAC increased by 42% over 2020.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 285 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 24,100 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 408 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 1,840 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than 962,779 parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 23,250 law enforcement professionals.
Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda
AGENDA
CITY OF MOUNT CARMEL
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, October 31, 2022 at 4:00 pm
· Call to Order
o Pledge of Allegiance
o Roll Call
· Approve Minutes
o Minutes of meeting held 10/17/2022
· Visitors (topic discussed by visitor(s) is limited to 5 minutes)
· Reports and Communications
o Mayor Judge
o Commissioner Meeks Streets, Cemeteries and Parks
o Commissioner Ikemire Finance and Senior Citizens
o Commissioner Dulgar Water and Sewer
o Commissioner Zimmerman Fire, Health & Safety, City Hall and Garbage
· Staff Reports
o Ryan Turner Brady Waldrop
o Michael McWilliams Francis Speth Mike Gidcumb
New Business
o Consent Agenda
§ Pay all bills providing proper signature
§ Approve SHIP Grant seed money and grant paperwork
§ 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2077-Vacating Alley
§ 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2078-Trash Rate Increase
o Removal of items from the Consent Agenda
o Approve new zoning board members
o Place 1231 Bainum up for bid
· Executive Session
· Motion to Adjourn
· Liquor Control Meeting-N/A
Mt. Carmel Woman Arrested On Multiple Charges
On 10/26/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Natasha A. Lingo, age 31, of Mt. Carmel, for (2) counts of Violation of Order of Protection from two separate violations. One violation occurred on this date where it is alleged that she drove and walked past a protected address and its protected residents and the other violation occurring on 10/24/22 when it is alleged that Lingo went to a different protected location where one of the protected parties was present. Lingo was taken to the Wabash County Jail where she was held pending a pre-trial detention hearing. However, on this date, Lingo was released with specific court ordered services that if she did not comply with, would require her to return to the Wabash County Jail. On 10/27/22, Lingo was observed outside of her residence, which confirmed she was not attending the court ordered services. Officers were directed to take her back into custody and return her to jail. Lingo resisted the arrest, kicked the two officers attempting to arrest her, before she was secured in handcuffs and returned to jail. Lingo is being held on the (2) counts of O.P. violation, (2) counts of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer, and (1) count of Escape for her failure to return to the Wabash County Jail as ordered.
Indiana Man Arrested On Drug Charges
On 10/18/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Joseph Varner Sachtjen, age 67, of Bloomfield, IN, after officers located him walking down Market Street asking for money. While speaking to Sachtjen, the arresting officer located a glass smoking pipe with white residue laying on the center console of his Jeep in plain view. Sachtjen was detained at this time. While officers furthered their investigation, officers located a clear bag of suspected methamphetamine in his cigarette pack as well. Sachtjen was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was held pending a pre-trial detention hearing.
Reports Of Shots Fired Result In Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man
On 10/24/22, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Branden D. Spruell age 23, of Mt. Carmel, for Aggravated Unlawful Use of Weapon (Concealed Weapon without a CCL) and Unlawful Use of Weapon (Concealed Weapon While Impaired) following multiple reports of shots fired in the area of South Chandler Drive. Officers arrived at the scene and found Spruell walking at College & South Chandler Dr. An investigative stop was made with Spruell consenting to a search of his person and bag. While the officer did so, an assisting Illinois State Police Trooper observed a handgun partially concealed in his leg of his pants. Spruell was detained at this time and the officers removed a loaded black Taurus handgun from Spruell. Spruell does not have a CCL license that would allow him to carry the firearm in this fashion. Spruell was also found under the influence of alcohol which was also unlawful. Spruell was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was issued the above charges and held pending a pre-trial detention hearing.
Tennessee Trucker Killed In I-57 Crash
ISP INVESTIGATES FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 22
WHAT: Single Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash
WHERE: Interstate 57 at milepost 1, near Cairo, Alexander County
WHEN: October 25, 2022 at approximately 4:52 p.m.
VEHICLES: Unit 1 – 2023 Red Freightliner Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer Combination
DRIVERS: Unit 1 – Dennis L. Davidson, 67-year-old male from Columbia, TN - Deceased.
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the following occurred: Unit 1 was traveling northbound on Interstate 57, negotiating the curve on the ramp at the exit at milepost 1. Unit 1 lost control and left the roadway to the left and overturned onto its driver’s side. The driver of Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on the scene. There is no further information available at this time.
Demand For Behavioral Health Services Outlined
The need for behavioral health services locally is evidenced in numbers presented at Monday night’s Wabash General Hospital Board of Directors meeting. Cathy Ruth is the program director at the Wabash Community Health Center and she told the board there were 272 behavioral health visits at the center in July including 27 new patients. That number jumped to 533 behavioral health appointments in August with 99 new patients and last month the health center had 503 behavioral health visits and another 84 new patients. Ruth said plans are in the works to expand behavioral health services back into local schools. The Wabash General Hospital Foundation is exploring ways to purchase a mobile trailer to make behavioral counseling more accessible for students.
Mt. Carmel Man Gets 35 Years For Sexually Assaulting A Child
A 40 year old Mt. Carmel man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for sexually a child. Thomas Rosche was sentenced Tuesday in Wabash County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child less than 13 years old.
Rosche was originally charged with two Class X sexual assault charges, but one was dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea on the other count. He will have to serve at least 85% of the 35 year prison term and then be on three years to life parole following his release.
The charges stem from a Mt. Carmel Police Department investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of two victims under the age of 13. In April, Rosche was extradited to Wabash County from Sarasota, Florida where he was picked up there by the sheriff’s department on the Wabash County warrants.
Rosche’s arrest was the second in this investigation with 32 year old Lona McKee of Robinson being arrested in December of 2021 for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault less than 13 years of age and Permitting the Sexual Abuse of a Child. She’s due back in court on November 14th for a pre-trial hearing.
ISP Makes Arrest in Case Involving Unidentified Child found in Suitcase
Sellersburg, Ind. - Wednesday, October 26, 2022: Detectives with the Indiana State Police (ISP) in Sellersburg have arrested a suspect in connection with the death of the unidentified boy found inside a suitcase in rural Washington County, Indiana, in April of this year.
When ISP detectives originally began the case, there was little information available to assist in the investigation. A local mushroom hunter located the child in a distinctive Las Vegas-themed hard-shell suitcase approximately 80 feet off Holder Road. Holder Road is a dead-end road situated in an isolated area of southeast Washington County in southern Indiana. No family members, witnesses, or acquaintances came forward to identify the boy or provide any information. Leads from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also proved unsuccessful, as well as tips called in by the general public. Information gathered from the autopsy shed little light on the investigation and listed the cause of death as "electrolyte imbalance," likely caused by a "viral gastroenteritis."
From the onset of the investigation, ISP crime scene technicians, detectives, and ISP Laboratory personnel utilized any physical evidence collected in hopes of determining and locating a suspect in the crime. No crime scene investigation technologies were spared in this investigation, including recent advanced technologies only available through federal and outside agencies.
Detectives and ISP criminal intelligence analysts also utilized a variety of electronic, digital communication, and social media forensic techniques in the course of their investigation.
As a result of the investigation and physical evidence gathered at the scene, detectives identified two suspects in the case. Detectives also identified the deceased child.
On October 14, 2022, the Washington County Circuit Court issued felony arrest warrants for Dawn Elaine Coleman, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, for charges of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, a Level 1 Felony, and Obstruction of Justice, a Level 6 Felony. Additionally, investigators identified Dejaune Anderson as the biological mother of the deceased child.
As a result of information gathered during their investigation, ISP Detective Matt Busick and ISP Detective Chris Tucker traveled to San Francisco, California. On October 19, 2022, Detective Matt Busick located and arrested Dawn Coleman with the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department. Continuing with information collected as part of the investigation, both detectives traveled to the Los Angeles, California, metro area but were unsuccessful in locating Dejaune Anderson.
Based on information gathered during Detective Busick's continuing investigation, on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the Washington County Circuit Court issued an arrest warrant for Dejaune Ludie Anderson for the charge of Murder.
Dejaune Ludie Anderson is currently at large, and her location is unknown. The Indiana State Police request the public's assistance in locating Dejaune Anderson. She is described as a Black Female, 5-05, approximately 135 pounds. She had short, dark brown hair in her last known photo (shown below), but she is known to often wear wigs or hair extensions. Her last known location was the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, California; however, she is known to travel and has recently been to San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Houston, Texas. Anyone who observes or has current location information on Dejaune Anderson's is asked to contact the local police department with jurisdiction at that location.
At this time, we can identify the child. He was five-year-old Cairo Ammar Jordan from Atlanta, Georgia. Cairo would have turned six on Monday, October 24, 2022. Authorities with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations assisted in locating and contacting Cairo's biological father after investigators were able to confirm the child was Cairo.
Photos Note
Photos of wanted suspect Dejuane Ludie Anderson (mother of deceased). Investigators believe the Georgia BMV Photo (Smiling) is most accurate, although not the most recent. The mug shot photo (yellow shirt) is courtesy of the Louisville, Kentucky Metro Corrections Department.
