Guilty! Mt. Carmel Man Convicted On All Counts In Child Porn Trial

Guilty on all 8 counts. That’s the verdict handed down just before noon today in the child pornography trial of 36 year old Zachary Reed of Mt. Carmel.

The jury deliberated just over an hour this morning before returning the guilty verdicts on the Class X felonies. Reed was arrested last year after pornographic images of a 12 year old girl were found on his phone and a laptop.

The trial resumed this morning with defense attorney Patrick Costa choosing not to call any witnesses or offer any testimony. Instead, he and state’s attorney Kelli Storckman delivered closing argument with Storckman asking the jurors to use common sense in evaluating the evidence presented at trial this week. She said the defense could offer only two possible explanations for the videos with Reed saying he was set up or the girl had videoed herself.

The jury received the case at 10:37am and the verdict was read just before noon by circuit clerk Angie Crum.

Sentencing for Reed is set for November 27th at 9am as he faces 6 to 30 years in prison on each of the 8 counts.

Judge William C. Hudson ordered Reed returned to the Wabash County Jail and held without bond.

36 year old Zachary Reed of Mt. Carmel is led back to the Wabash County Jail this afternoon after being found guilty on 8 counts of child porn.

36 year old Zachary Reed of Mt. Carmel is led back to the Wabash County Jail this afternoon after being found guilty on 8 counts of child porn.

State Rests Case In Child Porn Trial Of Mt. Carmel Man

A full day of testimony yesterday in the Zachary Reed child porn trial in Wabash County Circuit Court.

The day began with the alleged victim’s mother back on the stand for a spirited cross examination by defense attorney Patrick Costa.

The bulk of yesterday’s testimony came from Mt. Carmel Police detective Eddie Johnson who recounted retrieving and examining evidence from the residence where Reed lived. Among those items were SD cards, a charging block, and camera that prosecutors say Reed used to tape a 12 year old girl last year while she was in the bathroom. Johnson also testified to interviewing Reed after police were notified the child porn was found on a phone and laptop he had access to. The jury watched the video of the interview in which a tearful Reed denied any wrongdoing before asking for an attorney.

Also testifying yesterday was Sheryl Woodham of the Guardian Center who told jurors about an interview she conducted with the alleged victim that the jury was able to watch. At the conclusion of Woodham’s testimony, state’s attorney Kelli Storckman rested her case and Judge William C. Hudson denied a defense motion for a directed verdict.

The defense will present its’ case today, followed by closing statements, and the case going to the jury.

The 36 year old Mt. Carmel man faces  8 Class X felony counts of child pornography, with each count carrying a possible 6 to 30 years in prison. Reed has been lodged in the Wabash County Jail since his arrest last September.

 

Owensville woman arrested on DUI

On September 7, 2023, at 1:57 a.m.  Gibson County deputies were dispatched to the 800 block of West Gach Road near Princeton to investigate a possible intoxicated driver in a factory parking lot.  Upon arriving Officers located a White 1996 GMC Jimmy that an off duty Sheriff’s Office employee had observed having trouble parking, and the driver of the vehicle stumbled from the vehicle.  Deputy Bart Wagner approached the driver who was identified as 37 year old Sara Fetcher of Owensville and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage in addition to multiple other clues that may indicate intoxication.  At that point Deputy Wagner began a DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation he placed Ms. Fetcher into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.  She remains in custody on a $650 bond. 
 
Assisting Deputy Wagner in his investigation was Deputy U.B. Smith and Princeton Officer Ben Kiesel.  Also assisting in this investigation was Officer Cody Linxweiler of Gibson County Community Corrections.
 
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 for failing to comply with Indiana Sex Offender Registry Law

On September 6, 2023, at 5:50 p.m. Gibson County Sheriff’s Sergeant Loren Barchett went to the Golden Tower Apartments located at 500 East State Street in Princeton to perform a Sex Offender Compliance Check on 25 year old Nathan Maier.  Upon arriving on scene Sgt. Barchett located Mr. Maier and began to review his Sex Offender Registry information. During this interaction it was discovered that Mr. Maier had failed to register information that is mandated by law to the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office.  At that point Sgt. Barchett placed Mr. Maier into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office.  Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Maier was charged with a Sex Offender Registry violation.  He has since posted a $750 bond. 
 
Assisting Sgt. Barchett in his investigation was Deputy Michael Owens, Deputy Quinten Might, and Princeton Officer Matthew Perry.
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Solar Farm Project Progressing In Wabash County

Plans continue to progress for a new solar farm in Wabash County. In May of 2022, John Jones of R3 Renewables announced plans to build a 5,000 acre solar farm on previously mined coal properties. At Tuesday’s Wabash County Commissioner meeting, board chairman Tim Hocking said a meeting held last week provided an update to the county on how R3’s efforts are progressing… 

Hocking said R3 representatives expect to put a large deposit down soon on a grid connection and when that happens, the project will be a go. Commissioner Rob Dean said the meeting was a positive one and he sounded hopeful the project would be completed. According to Hocking, the process of starting the solar farm is slow as R3 continues to work on acquiring the required permits, right of way, inter connections, and leasings

Testimony Begins In Child Porn Trial Of Mt. Carmel Man

The child porn trial of 36 year old Zachary Reed continues tomorrow in Wabash County Circuit.

During opening arguments this morning, state’s attorney Kelli Storckman told jurors the case was about opportunity as Reed utilized every opportunity to video record and photograph a 12 year old girl last year. Storckman said evidence will prove Reed had child pornography on his cell phone and laptop when it was presented to police.

Defense Patrick Costa was brief in his opening argument as he told jurors there was not one single piece of direct evidence that tied Reed to the alleged crimes. He asked jurors not to fill in the blanks for the prosecution and hold the state to their burden to prove its’ case.

Testifying this afternoon were the alleged victim and her mother.   The mother will be back on the stand for cross examination when the trial resumes at 9am Thursday.

Reed is charged with 8 Class X felony counts of child pornography, with each count carrying a possible 6 to 30 years in prison. Reed has been lodged in the Wabash County Jail since his arrest last September.

911 call leads to arrest of Fort Branch woman

On September 6, 2023, at 8:16 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a disturbance at a business in the 2000 block of East County Road 500 South.  Upon arriving Deputy Logan Lashbrook began an investigation into the incident.  Deputy Lashbrook was assisted in his investigation by Deputy Jennifer Loesch, and they spoke to all persons involved in the incident.  At the end of his investigation Deputy Lashbrook placed 45 year old Julie Green of Fort Branch into custody and transported her to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the jail Ms. Green was charged with Battery and Criminal Mischief.  She 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.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ANNOUNCE ARREST FOR DELIVERY OF METHAMPHETAMINE

SALEM – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force (SEIDTF) announce the arrest of 20-year-old Violet K. Fox of Salem, IL  for Delivery of Methamphetamine (Class 2 Felony).

Over several months, ISP DCI SEIDTF conducted a narcotics investigation that resulted in the illicit sale of methamphetamine in Marion County.  On September 5, 2023, as a result of the investigation, Fox was taken into custody.

Bond was set at $10,000, personal recognizance.  The investigation remains open and on-going and no further information is available.

SEIDTF is comprised of the Salem Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Robinson Police Department, the Mount Carmel Police Department and the Illinois State Police. This investigation was a cooperative effort amongst the area police departments in an effort to curb drug usage and violence in the area.

K of C Tootsie Roll Drive Set For Homecoming Weekend

Local Knights of Columbus members will be manning city intersections Homecoming weekend September 22nd and 23rd for their annual Tootsie Roll drive to benefit those with intellectual disabilities. K of C member Josh Evans received the green light for the drive yesterday from the Mt. Carmel City Council. Last year, Evans said $8,500 was returned to Wabash County from last year’s drive. That money was split between WAVE, ECKCO, and District #348. Members will be positioned at 9th and Cherry, 5th and Walnut, and 13th and Market Streets between 6am and noon on the 22nd and 23rd.