Friday, November 13, 2009 8:56 PM CST
Man agrees to prison time for role in using woman's credit card
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — A Chicago man agreed to prison time when he admitted to a role in using a woman’s credit card in 2007 when he and other suspects were students at Eastern Illinois University.
Deanse P. Means, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of continuing financial crimes enterprise that accused him and the others of committing at least three felony criminal offenses by unauthorized use of the woman’s credit card in October 2007.
Means was sentenced to seven years in prison for the offense that could have resulted in a four- to 15-year term with prison time required because of prior convictions. He was recommended for a prison system discipline program that can lead to an early release.
Circuit Judge Teresa Righter also included a $1,000 fine, equal to the bond Means posted, in the sentence that she based on a plea agreement that Assistant State’s Attorney Eric Neumann and defense attorney Terese Matthews recommended.
The other suspects in the case pleaded guilty earlier to charges of unlawful use of a credit card that were reduced from felony offenses to misdemeanors and they were ordered to pay more than $3,600 in restitution. Robert G. Bennett, 21, and Russell M Harty, 21, both of Chicago, were placed on probation and Gregory D. Taylor, 20, of Champaign received court supervision.
In other cases in court before Righter recently:
n A charge of driving while license revoked against Pedro Garcia Correa, 37, whose most recent address on record is on Marshall Avenue, Mattoon, was dismissed.
Correa was accused of driving without a valid license in Mattoon on March 17. Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Bucher, who prosecuted, said it was first thought that Correa was outside the restricted area in which he legally drive for work purposes. Bucher said he dismissed the charge after his employer indicated he was in the allowed area.
Attorney Todd Reardon represented Correa, who could have received a prison sentence of one to three years had he been convicted. The charge was a felony because of earlier convictions.
- Matthew J. Hunt, 24, 3113 DeWitt Ave., Mattoon, was sentenced to two years in prison for hitting a woman while he was armed with a knife and entering a Mattoon city sewer department truck, both on April 15.
Hunt pleaded guilty to a felony aggravated battery charge and a misdemeanor trespassing charge and a felony charge of possession of stolen vehicle was dismissed. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence and was fined $650.
Righter accepted a plea agreement that Assistant State’s Attorney Mick McAvoy and Lutz recommended.
- A disorderly conduct charge against Lisa K. Todd, 40, of Sullivan was dismissed because the police officer who was the only prosecution witness is on active military duty overseas.
Todd was accused of making a false report of a battery to a Coles County sheriff’s deputy on Oct. 28, 2008. State’s Attorney Steve Ferguson said he’ll consider refiling the charge when the deputy returns. Public Defender Lonnie Lutz represented Todd.
- Christopher A. Miller, 39, 1014 Van Buren Ave., Charleston, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor theft charge alleging he changed the amount of a food voucher from a charitable organization from $20 to $70 on Nov. 25.
A felony forgery charge was dismissed and payment of $50 in restitution was among the terms of the one-year probation sentence Miller received. Righter accepted a plea agreement that McAvoy and defense attorney Jeannine Garrett recommended.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.
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