Sheriff Activity

CRIME WATCH

Polo man pleads not g uilt y to 10 counts of child porn

By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

A 23-year-old Polo man has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of possession of child pornography.

T r i s t a n C . S m i t h o r i g i n a l l y w a s charged with three counts; that information was amended Jan. 26, when he entered his plea.

Smith faces 3 to 7 years on each count.

He has also hired Rockford attorney Aaron C. Buscemi of DeRango & Caine and requested a jury trial, Ogle County Court records show.

He was freed on a $250,000 recognizance bond and has a pretrial hearing March 30.

Smith was arrested after a search of his home in the 600 block of Mason Street that was conducted in the wake of a multiagency investigation, State Police said in a news release.

Evidence supporting the charges and f i ve w e a po n s we r e s e i z e d, t h e r e l e a s e said.

No details were provided on either.

The ISP Division of Criminal Investigation, District 1 Troopers, Homeland Security, Dixon Police Department, Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, and Polo Police Department, conducted the search, the release said. Tristan C. Smith

A Tinley Park man was killed Feb. 1 when his vehicle was rearended by a semi-truck and trailer on Interstate 88 near Rochelle.

According to the Illinois State Police. Anthony Moody, 71, Tinley Park, was travelling west on I88 at approximately 8:40 p.m. when he slowed, for unknown reasons, and stopped on the roadway and was struck by the Freightliner, driven by Frank Hightower, 53, of Rockford.

Moody was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased, police said in a press release.

Hightower did not report any injuries.

All westbound lanes were closed near milepost 81 during the investigation. Lanes were reopened at 11:50 p.m.

STATE POLICE

Monthly activity for January

Illinois State Police District 1 Troopers issued 182 citations, 255 written warnings, and made seven criminal arrests during the month of January.

Speeding accounted for 108 citations. There were 16 arrests for no valid driver’s license or driving while license suspended/revoked.

Troopers investigated 14 traffic crashes, assisted 139 motorists, and conducted 79 commercial motor vehicle inspections,19 of which were placed out-of-service for safety reasons.

There was one arrest for driving while under the influence.

District 1, which encompasses Carroll, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties, investigated no fatal traffic crashes in January.

OGLE COUNTY SHERIFF

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity.

Jan. 31

Antwon Woodson, 29, of Polo, was arrested at 9:11 p.m. for driving while license suspended a traffic stop in the 6000 block of South Unity Road. Woodson also was cited for speeding, expired registration and improper lighting. He was released on an I-Bond with a return court date.

Richard Nelson, 44, of Mt. Morris, was arrested at 9:38 p.m. for driving while license suspended after deputies responded to a motorist assist at the intersection of Illinois Route 72 and Pecatonica Road. Nelson was released at the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Feb. 1

Deshontee Dixon, 25, of Coal City, was arrested at 10:33 p.m. for driving while license suspended after A traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 102. Dixon also was cited for having illegal window tint and an equipment violation. Dixon was given an I-Bond with a return court date for next month and was released on scene.

Feb. 2

At approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Illinois Route 64 and Rocky Hollow Road. An investigation showed that Isabel Tapia-Flores, 33, of Mt. Morris, was traveling eastbound on Route 64 when she lost control of her vehicle and began sliding sideways. Tapia-Flores’ Ford Explorer collided with the front end of a Jeep Liberty occupied by four juveniles. Tapia-Flores and two of the juveniles were transported to KSB Hospital in Dixon where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Tapia-Flores later was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid and accident.

Feb. 3

Albert Stevenson, 61, of Rockford, was arrested at 9:14 p.m. for driving while under the influence of alcohol, aggravated DUI and driving while license revoked following a traffic stop at Illinois Route 251 and Holcomb Road. Stevenson also was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol, speeding and improper land usage. Stevenson was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held without bond.

Feb. 5

Jermaine Canada, 24, of Freeport, was arrested at 1:16 p.m. for driving while license suspended a traffic stop near the intersection of Illinois Route 72 and Mt. Morris Road. Canada also was cited for operating an insured motor vehicle and expired registration. He a was released on an I-Bond and will appear in court at a later date.

Daniel Sarot, 44, of Lombard, was arrested at 1:47 p.m. for driving while under the influence of alcohol after deputies were dispatched to the Castle Rock Boat Launch, located at 3100 Illinois Route 2, for a welfare check on a male subject slumped over the steering wheel of a parked vehicle. Sarot also was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol. Sarot was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Vincent Digiovanni, 27, of Byron, was arrested at 8:40 p.m. for improper cannabis container as a driver after deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 1000 block of North Daysville Road. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with Digiovanni, the driver and sole occupant, and learned he was northbound when he entered the east ditch before striking a tree. Digiovanni was uninjured in the crash. He also was cited for driving too fast for conditions and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Digiovanni was released at the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date. Tim Guldan, 57, of Hancock, Wisconsin, was arrested at 10:43 p.m. for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop at Interstate 39 near mile marker 99. Guldan also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and improper lighting. Guldan was released on scene on an I-Bond and given a return court date.

Feb. 6

At 9:26 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a head-on collision involving two vehicles on Illinois Route 26, north of North Baileyville Road. An investigation showed a 2014 Dodge Journey, driven by Rachael E. Wisner, 31, of Forreston, was driving southbound on Route 26 when Wisner crossed the center line, swiping a northbound 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Ronald L. Baker, 80, of Freeport. Baker was transported by Polo EMS to FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport for treatment of minor injuries. Wisner was cited for improper land usage and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. The Forreston Fire Department and Polo EMS assisted on scene.

Feb. 7

Derrick E. Perkins, 39, of Prophetstown, was arrested at 3:14 p.m. for driving while license suspended and on a Whiteside County warrant following a traffic stop at 6th Ave and N. 8th St., in Rochelle. He was also cited for no front registration, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and expired registration. Perkins was transported to Ogle County Jail.

Feb. 8

At 12:30 a.m.. deputies were dispatched to a car burglary in progress in Leaf River. A short time later deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle in the area and later arrested the two occupants for criminal trespass to a motor vehicle: Brody Stone, 22, of Oregon and Trei Sanders, 27, also of Oregon.

Stone was also arrested for violation of an order of protection and cited for not having a valid driver’s license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Sanders was also cited for illegal transportation of alcohol. Both Stone and Sanders were being held in lieu of bond at the Ogle County Jail.