Bureau County grand jury returns indictments

The following cases were considered by the Bureau County Grand Jury on Jan. 12:

Melvin R. Townsel, 36, of Spring Valley, was indicted for the charges of aggravated battery and criminal trespass to a residence. He is accused of entering a residence on Dec. 18 without authority and causing bodily harm to the resident, a Spring Valley woman. He is charged with aggravated battery because there was a weapon involved. An officer from the Spring Valley Police Department testified before the grand jury. This defendant is in custody of the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department with bond set in the amount of $75,000-10%.

Lisamarie Downing, 57 of Medford, Oregon, was indicted for the charge of unlawful possession with intent to deliver cannabis. She is accused possessing, with the intent to deliver between 2,000 and 5,000 grams of a substance containing cannabis on Dec. 22. An agent from the TRI-Dent Drug Task Force testified before the grand Jury. This defendant is free from custody after posting bond in the amount of $75,000-10%.

Shimund R. Jones, 23, Chicago, was indicted on the charge of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer. He is accused of failing to stop the motor vehicle he was driving after being given a visual signal from the officer to stop and increasing the speed he was driving a rate at more than 21 mph more than the legal limit and therefore fleeing and attempting to elude the officer. A trooper from the Illinois State Police testified before the grand jury. This defendant is free from custody after posting bond in the amount of $100,000-10%.

Robert C. Vowels II, 37, of Tiskilwa, was indicted on the charges of aggravated battery and criminal trespass to a residence. He is accused of entering a Neponset residence without authority and causing bodily harm to a guest of the resident, on Dec. 24. He is charged with aggravated battery because there was a weapon involved. A sergeant from the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department testified before the grand jury. This defendant is free from custody having posted 10% of a $25,000 bond.

Dustin A. Wrona, 33, of Princeton, was indicted on charges of aggravated DUI. He is accused of operating a vehicle at a time when he was under the influence of alcohol and was involved in a motor vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a passenger who was riding in his vehicle with him. A deputy from the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department testified before the grand jury. This defendant is free from custody after posting bond in the amount of $100,000-10%.

Grant A. Hackler, 36, Ladd, was indicted on the charge of criminal damage to property. He is accused of damaging property of a neighbor’s house while he was setting fire to his own residence, causing extensive damage to the neighbor’s house. An officer from the Ladd Police Department testified before the grand jury. This defendant is in custody of the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department with bond set in the amount of $75,000-10%.

These indictments were presented to the grand jury by State’s Attorney Geno Caffarini, First Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Briddick, and Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel C. Anderson and were returned before Judge James Andreoni.

These indictments are only accusations against the defendants. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.