Two sentenced in Peru gun, Sandwich crossbow shooting cases before holiday

Prosecutors closed out two felony shooting cases before breaking for New Year’s. Both resulted in prison sentences for the culprits.

On Dec. 29, a Spring Valley man was sentenced to five years in prison for firing a gun at the Peru home of his estranged girlfriend. His children were inside the house.

Semaj S. Jones, 34, was convicted following an October jury trial of two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony carrying four to 15 years in prison. No one was struck with a bullet in the July 6 shooting, but a Peru man was hurt fleeing the scene.

At trial, Jones denied firing the .40-caliber pistol and insisted he was out of town at the time of the late-night shooting. But a jury was persuaded to link Jones to the discharge through a series of text messages to his estranged girlfriend, who was inside with their children, and to the gun itself, which Spring Valley police recovered later.

Then, on Dec. 30, a rural Sandwich man was sentenced to seven years in prison for firing a crossbow at a police officer.

Curtis K. Poe, 58, previously had entered a blind plea to one count of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault. His criminal history made him eligible for up to 14 years in prison, but as part of the limited agreement, prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years.

Poe was charged after he aimed a crossbow at La Salle County Sheriff’s deputies and Sandwich police, striking a Sandwich officer with an arrow, June 22. The injury was not life-threatening. The arrow was fired before police were able to use a Taser to incapacitate him.