In January 2024, after pleading guilty during his October 2023 trial, Demond Wilson, Jr., who was 26 at the time, of Calumet Park, was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by McDonough County Circuit Court Judge Nigel Graham to 12 years for a March 25, 2023 shooting at a party at 533 N. Johnson St Macomb, that left Jerman Beathea, 26, of Chicago, dead and 10 others wounded, including Wilson, Jr.
Wilson, Jr., who is now 29, appealed to Illinois' Fourth District Appellate Court in July 2025, arguing the trial court 'improperly considered factors inherent to the offense and rejected pertinent mitigating factors,' including his claim of self-defense and lack of criminal history. On July 20, 2026, the Appellate Court judges ruled unanimously to uphold the original sentence, noting the court did not abuse its discretion when it rejected mitigating factors.
During the month of July, several individuals appeared in McDonough County Circuit Court for continued pre-trial hearings.
Elizabeth Bustamante
Bustamante, 48, of Macomb, appeared July 27 on a felony charge of criminal damage to government property and a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass to land in connection with the June 2 vandalism of the Lincoln topiary on the front lawn of City Hall.
Bustamante has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial on both counts. During Monday's hearing, her attorney, Maureen Williams, demanded a speedy trial and filed a motion for discovery. At a hearing earlier this month, the state filed a motion for a fitness hearing; that motion was granted July 27. The case has been continued to Aug. 31.
Following the incident in early June, the Macomb Police Department reviewed camera footage and Bustamante was arrested June 6. The footage showed that around 10:30 p.m. June 2, the suspect ripped the entire center – the flowers and the ivy – from the 'beard' of the Lincoln topiary. The damage was estimated at over $200, plus the labor involved.
Decory Coleman, Jr.
Coleman, Jr. 25, of Chicago, appeared July 22 for a pre-trial hearing in front of McDonough County Circuit Court Judge Nigel Graham. Probable cause was found, a discovery order was entered and the case was continued to September. Coleman has pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial for charges related to a late evening June 22 shooting near Prairieview Homes that injured Michael Burch, 36, of Macomb.
Coleman, Jr. has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon (Class X felony), aggravated discharge of a firearm (Class X felony) and aggravated battery, (Class 3 felony. He remains lodged in the McDonough County Jail.
After the shooting, he allegedly fled the scene and was reportedly hiding in a nearby Prairieview apartment belonging to his stepmother. Police received a tip that the alleged perpetrator was still in the vicinity and located Coleman, Jr. on the premises. He was apprehended without incident.
Sean Hayes
Hayes, 38, of Macomb, appeared July 29 on disorderly conduct and theft charges, and the case was continued for another pre-trial hearing on both charges Aug. 5.
On April 24, Hayes was arrested for allegedly stealing copper from utility vehicles. The Macomb Police Department executed a search warrant at a home in the 900 block of East Jackson Street during the morning hours of April 24, and arrested Hayes for possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. On April 20, MPD received a report of a large quantity of copper wire stolen from utility vehicles on Hemp Street. Through an investigation spanning three days, it was determined that over the course of a month, several hundred pounds of wire and equipment had been stolen. During the search of the home in which Hayes was located, multiple items, believed to have been stolen, were located.
The disorderly conduct charges stem from an Oct. 3 incident in which he allegedly threatened a McDonald's employee, as well as threatened an individual near T.J. Maxx.
The Macomb man was initially arrested last July in connection with the shooting death of Bryson Saddoris, 21; however, he was released a few weeks later, on Aug. 19, after charges were dropped after McDonough County State's Attorney Matt Kwacala shared there was evidence that supported Hayes' release. He initially denied involvement in the shooting but reportedly had admitted to photographing Saddoris' body and cleaning the crime scene. Morgan Bearce is currently lodged on first degree murder charges related to the case. Bearce's case continues.
Shaking Mathis
Mathis, 40, appeared July 16 on charges related to the Sept. 4, 2024 incident in which he allegedly shot former Macomb Police Department Det. Nick Severs (who is now with the Illinois State Police) and MPD Sgt.
J.P. McLaughlin who were attempting to serve a search warrant in connection with a reported sexual assault that same day. A pretrial has been set for Aug. 4. He has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
In addition, Mathis was arrested in February 2026 on two counts of sexual assault by force stemming from Sept. 4, 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault and requested a jury trial. He has remained detained in the McDonough County Jail since September 2024.
Edgar Salazar-Gutierrez, Jr.,
The case of Salazar-Gutierezz, Jr, 19, of Hoffman Estates, who has been charged with disorderly conduct, aggravated battery of a child and criminal sexual abuse, appeared July 16, with his case continued to an Aug.
4 pre-trial conference. During the late afternoon hours of March 16, Macomb Police were called to a business in the 1400 block of East Jackson Street following a report of a man who had inappropriately touched a 15-year-old female.
The suspect, later identified as Salazar- Gutierrez, Jr., admitted to the act, and that he entered the business specifically to grope one of the female juveniles in the business. Salazar-Gutierrez, Jr. has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. He is currently not in custody.
