Two months ago, 24 mailboxes were damaged throughout McDonough County, and the three alleged culprits continue to battle their cases in McDonough County Circuit Court.
On April 15, the mailboxes along Spring Lake Road, the Blandinsville-Tennessee Blacktop and West Adams Road were destroyed, damaged or removed, according to a McDonough County Sheriff's Office police report. Leremy L. Jackson, 26, of Unionville, IA; Adam T. Bensman, 23, of Macomb; and Coby M. Frey, 23, of Upper Sandusky, OH, have been charged with 24 counts of criminal damage to property. Frey was also charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon (after a firearm was found in the vehicle) and unlawful transportation of alcohol. The three men are recent WIU graduates, with ties to the institution's School of Agriculture.
At approximately 1:05 a.m., April 15, the sheriff's office was called to a residence on North 1550th Road in reference to a suspicious circumstance. The homeowner told dispatch that he heard a loud noise near the road and then realized that his mailbox and trash can were gone. While enroute to the residence, the deputy reported that a Chevrolet truck was driving at a high rate of speed toward him, and was being followed by an Illinois State Police trooper. The vehicle was stopped a short time later by the state police.
According to the report, the deputy noticed the truck bed was filled with multiple mailboxes, along with other decorative yard items. Bensman, Jackson and Frey told police they had smashed the mailboxes, and removed some of them. They were initially charged with theft over $500, as well as criminal damage to property.
Another pre-trial hearing for Frey and Bensman, who have pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial, is set for July 20. A pre-trial for Jackson, who has also pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial, is set for Aug. 4.
The United States Postal Inspection Service states on its website that destroying a mailbox is a federal crime in the U.S. under 18 U.S. Code, Convictions for willful or malicious vandalism can result in up to three years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 per offense, along with mandatory restitution for damages.
McDonough County State's Attorney Matt Kwacala told The Community News Brief that only federal prosecutors from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) can file federal cases or obtain an indictment from a federal grand jury. State prosecutors cannot file or prosecute federal crimes; therefore, the cases are currently being handled by his office.
The total cost of the damages/restitution is not yet available; however, estimates within the police report exceed $2,500. Homeowner Dick Marcott, who lives near Spring Lake, said damages to his mailbox were approximately $150.
'Stupid, bonehead move. Very immature. They should pay back the damages, pay a fine and complete some community service,' Marcott added. 'Who goes out and destroys property for fun? This caused a lot of inconvenience for us because we had to take care of getting these fixed so we could get our mail.'
