CRIME WATCH
ROCKFORD – A former punishable by a minimum 6 Fulton man was indicted to 30 years; possession of a Tuesday on federal drug and weapon by a felon, which firearms charges. carries a minimum of 3 to 14 Bradley Scott Goddard, 33, years; and escape, which now of Clinton, Iowa, is carries 3 to 7 years, for charged with possession of a escaping from a Fulton controlled substance (more Bradley Goddard police officer, court docuthan 50 grams of methamphetments show. amine) with intent to distribThose charges were disute, possession of a firearm in fur- missed Tuesday when the circuit therance of a drug trafficking crime, court judge learned federal charges and possession of a firearm by a felon, were being filed. the U.S. Attorney’s office in Rockford Goddard also was charged in Lee said in a news release. County in August 2019 with felony Goddard possessed the drugs and retail theft and was free after posting firearm on Sept. 8 in Fulton, the $730 of his $7,300 bond that September, indictment states. That’s when he then failed to pay or appear starting was arrested by Fulton police. that October. That case is pending. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday. He was sentenced in Whiteside Goddard initially was charged County to 2 years in prison in FebruSept. 9 in Whiteside County Court ary 2020 for theft worth more than with armed violence, for possessing a $500 but less than $10,000 in a 2019 Ruger handgun along with metham- case. He stopped paying his fines in phetamine, a charge that. carries a March and was sent to a collections minimum of 15 years in prison; pos- agency, court records show. session with intent to deliver more Fulton Police Chief Nicholas Nebthan 100 but less than 400 grams of lung, the Morrison Police Departmeth, punishable by a minimum of 9 ment and the Whiteside County Sherto 40 years; possession of more than iff’s Office assisted in the federal 100 but less than 400 grams of meth, investigation, the release said.
POLICE REPORTS Fulton
Jan. 15 Josephitis Stanley of Forreston was cited for no valid registration at 14th Avenue and Route 84. He was released with a notice to appear. Jan. 20 Makayla A. Warren of Clinton, Iowa, was cited for operating a vehicle with an expired registration in the 400 block of 19th Avenue. She was released with a promise to comply. Jan. 24 Christopher E. Easter of Fulton was cited for no valid driver’s license in the 1400 block of Seventh Avenue. He was released with a notice to appear.
Morrison
Arrests On Wednesday, Jan. 19, Morrison police arrested David W. Byerley, 52, of Sterling pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Whiteside County charging Byerley with failure to appear – driving while license suspended. Byerley was transported to the Whiteside County Jail.
On Friday, Jan. 21, about 12:30 p.m., Morrison police responded to a domestic dispute at 409 W. Lincolnway, Morrison. As a result of the investigation, Morrison police arrested and charged Megan C. Kochevar, 36, of Morrison, with domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor) and possession of methamphetamine (less than 5 grams, Class 3 felony). Kochevar was transported to the Whiteside County Jail. On Tuesday, Jan. 25, about 10:11 a.m., Morrison police responded to a motor vehicle crash involving a parked vehicle. The suspect vehicle had left the scene. As a result of the investigation, on Jan. 28, Morrison police arrested and charged Kevin J. Wiebenga, 32, of Morrison, with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and failure to give information – striking an unattended vehicle (Class A misdemeanor). Wiebenga was released with a notice to appear for Feb. 14. Individuals names in the above report have been merely accused of a charge. They are presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Bills propose arming DCFS workers, reinstating death penalty for those killing first responders
Two Republican state lawmakers from northwest Illinois introduced legislation Wednesday they said is in response to the line-of-duty deaths of workers from the Department of Children and Family Services and other first responders. State Rep. Tony McCombie of the 71st District has a package of bills for the 102nd General Assembly’s spring session, including one that allows caseworkers to be armed in the course of their duties. She said hers is in direct response to the Jan. 4 death of Deidre Silas, who was stabbed during a visit in Thayer and the Feb. 8, 2018, slaying of Pam Sue Knight of Dixon. State Sen. Neil Anderson of the 36th District filed a bill to reinstate the death penalty for individuals found guilty of killing first responders. McCombie’s package also includes a death-penalty provision. “Children and adult protective services caseworkers and investigators deserve the same worker safety protections as other first responders in the performance of their, too seldom recognized, life-saving duties,” McCombie said in a news release. McCombie’s proposals: House Bill 4636: Allows DCFS caseworkers to carry concealed handguns and sets training requirements. HB 4637: Reinstates the death penalty for adults in the killing of police officers, firefighters and workers in the areas of child or adult protective services and those who supervise sexually violent persons. HSB 3933: Clarifies that an attack against a DCFS or Adult Protective Services workers is the same as attacking a firefighter or teacher.
State Rep. Tony McCombie
State Sen. Neil Anderson
The intent of that last bill has been one the House Republicans have advocated for since the Knight slaying, McCombie said. Anderson’s proposal, Senate Bill 3125, extends first responder language to include police, firefighters, EMT/ paramedics, ambulance drivers, firstaid personnel, employees of the Department of Corrections and other similar agencies. “These are people who wake up every day to serve and protect our communities, the people on our streets, our homes and our loved ones,” Anderson said in a news release. “We owe it to the first responder community to make sure that anyone who attacks them is held accountable to the highest possible level.” Anderson notes that 27 states have death-penalty sentences for the killing of a police officer. Former Republican Gov. George Ryan imposed a moratorium on Illinois state executions in 2003 before commuting all death sentences to life in prison. Illinois lawmakers, under Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, later abolished the death penalty in 2011.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
5 WHITESIDE NEWS Shaw Media / ShawLocal.com • Tuesday, Feb 1, 2022
Former Fulton man indicted on meth, firearms charges
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