Numerous court cases were heard over the past two weeks in McDonough County District Court, including pre-trial hearings for Morgan Bearce, whose murder trial is set to begin in mid-November; Jeremy Sholl on predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and other charges, and Edward Anderson for attempted murder, among several other cases. The cases that were heard in October are appear in alphabetical order.
Edward Anderson
Anderson, 49, of 88 Murphy Road, Bushnell, remains detained in the McDonough County Jail following his latest pretrial hearing Oct. 27. His attorney, Public Defender Scott Terry, told the Judge Heidi Benson Tuesday that he is not yet ready for trial.
Anderson's case was continued to Dec. 15.
The Bushell man faces 10 counts stemming from an incident March 21 near 84 Murphy Road in Bushnell. Authorities allege Anderson deliberately rammed his vehicle into a McDonough County Sheriff’s Office squad car following an incident during the early evening hours. The Illinois State Police have charged Anderson with attempted battery with a deadly weapon, attempted aggravated battery of a peace officer, driving under the influence of alcohol and criminal damage to state property of $10,000 to $100,000.
The Bushnell Police Department has also charged Anderson with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, resisting a police officer, domestic battery, aggravated battery and aggravated fleeing and eluding.
During the March 21 event, McDonough County Deputy Katie Norton is credited with preventing Anderson’s vehicle from striking an ambulance at the scene. Norton positioned her squad car in the vehicle’s path, authorities said, protecting several rescue personnel who were at the scene.
Morgan Bearce
Bearce, 25, who is accused of killing 21-year-old Bryson Saddoris in July 2025, appeared Oct. 20, with both parties reporting the case is ready for trial, which is tentatively set to begin the week of Nov. 16.
Bearce has pleaded not guilty, and is being represented by Mark Wykoff and Daniel Fultz of Springfield. On Oct. 19, Wykoff filed two motions to bar the state from introducing evidence of his client's former crimes and to bar the state from impeaching Bearce with prior convictions. The case was continued to a final pre-trial conference Nov. 2.
Bearce, who remains held in the McDonough County Jail, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice/destroying evidence in connection with the July 29, 2025 shooting death of Saddoris at 625 N. Randolph St.
According to police reports following the murder, Bearce admitted that he shot Saddoris six times with a revolver, claiming he fired the additional shots to "put the victim out of his misery" after the initial gunshot.
A second man, Sean Hayes, of Macomb, was initially arrested but was released Aug.
19, 2025 after charges were dropped by McDonough County State's Attorney Matt Kwacala, who determined there was new evidence that supported Hayes' release.
Prior to Sadoris' murder, authorities stated the three men (Bearce, Saddoris and Hayes) were reportedly smoking methamphetamine at Bearce's Randolph Street home. Hayes initially denied involvement in the shooting but reportedly had admitted to photographing the Saddoris' body and cleaning the crime scene.
Bearce claims that he was in another room of the home when he heard a gunshot in his kitchen. He told police he found Hayes in the kitchen standing over Saddoris, holding a shotgun. He then allegedly handed Bearce a revolver and instructed him to put the victim out of his misery. Bearce admitted to emptying the revolver on the victim.
The crime was discovered a few days later when police descended on the home as Bearce loaded a car with drugs and guns. He initially told police that it was "Sean's mess" in the laundry room. The crime was brought to the attention of law enforcement after Hayes allegedly posted a photo on social media of Saddoris' body.
Elizabeth Bustamante
Bustamante, 48, of Macomb, was set to appear Oct. 7 for a pre-trial hearing to hear the report of a fitness evaluation that was ordered in July by defense attorney Maureen Williams; however, after the defendant did not appear at the October hearing, a contempt "catch-and-hold" warrant was issued.
She is now being held in the McDonough County Jail. At the Oct. 7 hearing, she was found unfit to stand trial, with the case continued to Jan. 6, 2027.
Bustamante faces 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. 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 Oct. 27 for a pre-trial hearing with his case continued to Dec. 15 after Public Defender Terry told Judge Benson the case was not yet ready for trial. At a hearing last month, probable cause was found. Coleman, Jr. 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.
Russell Crawford
Crawford, 46, who is being held in the McDonough County Jail on five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, appeared Oct. 27, with his attorney, Monroe McWard telling Judge Benson the case is not yet ready for trial. The Macomb man allegedly sexually assaulted a female known to him over a prolonged period of time. The case was continued to Dec. 15.
In December 2025, a report was made to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, who then contacted MPD to open an investigation into the allegations.
Crawford was arrested at the Macomb Police Department March 18.
Lamarcus Davis
Davis, 20, of Macomb, represented by Public Defender Terry, appeared Oct. 27 on aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges.
Terry told the court the case it not yet ready for trial due to additional discovery evidence that must be reviewed. The case was continued to a Dec. 15 pre-trial hearing.
Davis was arrested Sept. 7 by Macomb police and charged allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old male relative. He was released with conditions, including no contact with the reported victim, who does not live in the region, and no unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 18.
Paul Dodd
Also represented by the Public Defender's Office, Dodd, 20, of Macomb, is currently being held in the McDonough County Jail on charges of armed robbery/armed with a firearm (Class X felony), unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing justice/ destroying evidence (Class 4 felony). He has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. During an Oct. 27 pre-trial hearing, Terry told Judge Benson that the case is not yet ready for trial and agreed to a Dec. 15 continuance.
Dodd and two juveniles were arrested in early June after they allegedly met the man, who had traveled to Macomb to purchase clothing from Dodd, whom he knew, at an apartment in River Run Drive when Dodd and the two juvenile males reportedly pulled a gun and robbed the individual of $300.
The victim called police, and the youth and Dodd fled the area. This resulted in a brief foot pursuit near River Run Drive, including K-9 tracking getting involved, with the trio being located and arrested.
Sean Hayes
Hayes, 38, of Macomb, appeared in court Oct. 27 on numerous charges, including theft, burglary, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Hayes' attorney Kurt Dittmer told the court his client is ready for trial; however, he needs to speak further with his client before proceeding. The case was continued to Dec. 15. The theft charges stem from an April 24 investigation into the alleged theft of copper wire and equipment from utility vehicles. On April 20, the Macomb Police Department received a report that a large quantity of copper wire had been stolen from utility vehicles on Hemp Street.
Following a three-day investigation, police determined that several hundred pounds of wire and equipment had allegedly been stolen over the course of about a month. On April 24, MPD executed a search warrant at a home in the 900 block of East Jackson Street, where Hayes was located. Police said several items believed to have been stolen were recovered during the search. Hayes was arrested and initially charged with possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The disorderly conduct charges stem from an Oct. 3 incident in which Hayes allegedly threatened a McDonald’s employee and another individual near T.J. Maxx.
Hayes was also arrested in July 2025 in connection with the shooting death of Bryson Saddoris, 21. He was released a few weeks later after the charges were dropped; McDonough County State’s Attorney Matt Kwacala said at the time that evidence supported Hayes’ release. Hayes initially denied involvement in the shooting, but reportedly admitted to photographing Saddoris’ body and cleaning the crime scene. Morgan Bearce remains charged with first-degree murder in connection with Saddoris’ death.
Bearce’s case is ongoing, with his trial expected to begin the week of Nov. 16.
Christopher Metcalf
Public Defender Terry told the court Oct.
27 that he expects to have a plea agreement in place in the coming weeks and requested a status hearing Nov. 23. Metcalf, 44, was arrested Nov. 26, 2024 at his Macomb home in the 200 block of North Sherman Avenue and charged with disseminating child pornography through an online platform and six counts of possession of child pornography, appeared Aug. 18. He has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. Metcalf has been lodged in the McDonough County Jail since his November 2024 arrest.
Jeremy Sholl
Sholl, 43, of Galesburg, appeared in court Oct. 27, with his case continued to Dec. 15 after Terry told Judge Benson that he is not yet ready for trial. Sholl remains in custody at the McDonough County Jail. He faces six felony counts: two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, Class X felonies; two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, Class 2 felonies; and two counts of criminal sexual assault, Class 1 felonies.
Sholl has pleaded not guilty to the allegations involving two female minors and has requested a jury trial.
Sholl was arrested Feb. 11 at his Galesburg residence by McDonough County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Illinois State Police Zone 4 special agents. According to authorities, the allegations came to light in late 2025 after Sholl allegedly sent text messages to a third party describing his conduct. Authorities say the messages provided a detailed account of the alleged abuse.
The alleged incidents involving the two minors reportedly occurred from November 2011 through December 2012, when the girls were eight years old. Additional allegations involve a four-month period in 2018, when the girls were between 13 and 17 years old.
Dakota Young
Young, 30, of Macomb, continues to be held on predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child under the age of 13. He appeared Oct. 27, with his case continued to Dec. 15 Young was arrested in March 2025.
