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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joseph A. Cervantez, Jackson County State’s Attorney
Date: June 6, 2024

Jackson County Grand Jury Indictments

Jackson County State’s Attorney, Joseph A. Cervantez, announced today that several individuals have been indicted by the Jackson County Grand Jury. Cervantez and Assistant State’s Attorneys presented the following cases to a Jackson County Grand Jury on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

Timothy Gassel, 32, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was recently indicted on two counts of First Degree Murder for his involvement with a May 25, 2024, shooting incident at 47 Oak Valley Drive in Carbondale, Illinois. Gassel is currently being detained with no bond.

Quantez D. McGee, 22, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, and one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm for his involvement with a May 20, 2021, incident near the 500 block West College Street in Carbondale, Illinois. McGee is currently detained in the Illinois Department of Corrections on another matter.

Byron D. Gardner, 35, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on count of Robbery and one count of Aggravated Battery for his involvement with a May 13, 2024, incident at 401 S. Illinois Avenue in Carbondale, Illinois. Gardner is currently being detained with no bond.

Sidney A. Logwood, 47, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on two counts of Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon, one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with the Intent to Deliver, and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon for her involvement with a May 12, 2024, incident at North Washington Street and Oak Street in Carbondale, Illinois.

Courtney D. Williams, 42, of Carbondale, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon, one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with the Intent to Deliver for her involvement with a May 13, 2024, incident near North Washington Street and Oak Street in Carbondale, Illinois.

Kaliyah Parker, 23, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Possession of a Firearm with FOID Revoked, two count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and one count of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm for her involvement with a March 21, 2024, incident at 900 E. Grand Avenue in Carbondale, Illinois.

Ricky N. Pierce, 24, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon for his involvement with a May 17, 2024, incident at 515 W. Rigdon Street in Carbondale, Illinois.

Allen M. Surratt, 41, Murphysboro, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon, one count of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and one count Theft for his involvement with a May 18, 2024, incident Illinois Avenue and North 24th Street in Murphysboro, Illinois.

Buck W. Towle, Jr., 43, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and one count of Unlawful Possession of Hypodermic Syringes or Needles for his involvement with a May 14, 2024, incident near 1000 Faner Drive in Carbondale, Illinois.

Pulaski Grahm, 60, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and one count of Criminal Trespass to Real Property for his involvement with an April 1, 2024, incident near 250 S. Lewis Lane in Carbondale, Illinois.

Shon A. Ridgeway, 41, of DuQuoin, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, one count of Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle, and one count of Motorcycle Glasses/Goggles/Shield Violation for his involvement with a March 4, 2024, incident near Ruby Lane in Dowell, Illinois.

Kadence Prather, 19, of Carbondale, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Aggravated Battery, one count of Mob Action, and one count of Aggravated Assault for her involvement with a January 6, 2024, incident at 780 East Grand Avenue in Carbondale, Illinois.

James D. Williams, 61, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Battery for his involvement with a July 8, 2023, incident at 546 Zion Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Charles J. Kemp, 46, of West Frankfort, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor, two counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and one count of Solicitation to Meet a Child for his involvement with a May 22, 2024, incident at 2175 Reed Station Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Marlin Ray Kellum, 28, of Marion, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor, two counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and one count of Solicitation to Meet a Child for his involvement with a May 22, 2024, incident at 2175 Reed Station Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Robert B. Wilson, 35, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor, one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, one count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and one count of Solicitation to Meet a Child for his involvement with a May 22, 2024, incident at 2175 Reed Station Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Scott S. Strudwick, 24, of Carbondale, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor, two counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and one count of Solicitation to Meet a Child for his involvement with a May 23, 2024, incident at 2175 Reed Station Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Kyler J. McGhee, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was indicted on one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor, two counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and one count of Solicitation to Meet a Child for his involvement with a May 23, 2024, incident at 2175 Reed Station Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Justin M. Phoenix, 29, of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, was indicted on one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor, two counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and one count of Solicitation to Meet a Child for his involvement with a May 23, 2024, incident at 2175 Reed Station Road in Carbondale, Illinois.

Nathan D. Kent, 50, of Carbondale, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Criminal Damage to Property for his involvement with a May 18, 2024, incident at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois.

Clayton A. McCubbin, 39, of Makanda, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Burglary for his involvement with a May 17, 2024, incident 2006 W. Woodriver Drive in Carbondale, Illinois.

Matthew L. Hall, 36, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was recently indicted on three counts of Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon for his involvement with a May 30, 2024, incident near the 1800 block of Gartside Street in Murphysboro, Illinois. Hall is currently being detained with no bond.

Kaliyah D. Parker, 23, of Carbondale, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle for her involvement with a May 14, 2024, incident at 1412 W. Main Street in Carbondale, Illinois.

George D. Travis, 60, of Carbondale, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Burglary for his involvement with an April 23, 2024, incident at 709 West Pecan Street in Carbondale, Illinois.

Nicholas A. Walker, 44, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Burglary for his involvement with a January 5, 2024, incident at 29 Apple City Center in Murphysboro, Illinois.

Jayvon L. Yarbrough, 28, of Carbondale, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Criminal Damage to Property and one count of Domestic Battery/Bodily Harm for his involvement with a May 2, 2024, shooting incident near 305 N. Robinson Circle in Carbondale, Illinois.

James L. Todd, 50, of Murphysboro, Illinois, was recently indicted on one count of Attempting to Escape the Jackson County, Illinois, Jail for his involvement with a May 17, 2024, incident at the Jackson County Jail in Murphysboro, Illinois. Todd is currently being detained with no bond.

Cervantez thanks the Carbondale Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Murphysboro Police Department, SIU Department of Public Safety, the Elkville Police Department, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication through the investigations. He also thanked the community for their concerns and for their cooperation. Cervantez said that “It takes people saying that “enough is enough,” for there to be real change in the community.”

State’s Attorney Cervantez emphasized that an Indictment is merely a charge and not evidence. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

MURPHYSBORO MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

MURPHYSBORO MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Joseph A. Cervantez, Jackson County State’s Attorney, announced today that Commodore D. Jackson, 42, of Murphysboro, was sentenced to 17 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Jackson was found guilty in 2022 of Aggravated Battery with Use of a Deadly Weapon.

On March 4, 2022, the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office presented evidence that on Friday, November 5, 2021, at around 1:25 A.M., Carbondale Police Officers responded to 511 S. Illinois Avenue, Hanger 9, in Carbondale, regarding a stabbing. Jackson had stabbed the victim four times in the parking lot, following a verbal altercation inside the bar. The survivor was able to make his way back toward the front of Hanger 9 where emergency help was called. The Carbondale Police Department conducted the investigation, and the Murphysboro Police Department located and apprehended Jackson where he was transported to the Jackson County Jail on November 5, 2021.

A sentencing hearing was held on December 15, 2023, where arguments were made by Jackson County Assistant State’s Attorney Sophia M. Allen, as to sentencing recommendations. The court ultimately sentenced Jackson to a total of 17 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The investigation was led by the Carbondale Police Department and assisted by the Murphysboro Police Department and the Illinois State Police.

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Jackson County State's Attorney's Office