Date range: December 30, 2015 – January 4, 2016. Visit the “Court News” category under the “Community News” tab for other editions.

LAWSUITS

In a complicated, multi-count lawsuit filed in Macoupin County Circuit Court an heir to a sizable Macoupin County estate is suing her sibling and his children on her behalf and the behalf of her children. The plaintiffs–Lisa Salinas and her children, Francesca, Isabella and Stetson Salinas–name Bruce Loveless of Carlinville as defendant, along with his children, who are not named in the suit. Both Salinas and Loveless are children of the late Randall Loveless, who died in December 1998. In addition to monetary damages in excess of $750,000, the suit seeks to remove Loveless as co-executor of a trust left by Randall Loveless for the benefit of his children, along with a court order requiring Bruce Loveless to provide a financial accounting of his management of the estate, and a court order to create separate trusts for his children and Salinas’ children. At issue is nearly 400 acres of land near the former Monterey Coal Mine in Gillespie Township. According to the suit, Randall Loveless left an estate that included 192 acres that had been used as a feedlot for cattle production, 195 acres of primarily recreational land and upward of $100,000 worth of farming equipment. At the time of Randall Loveless’ death, Lance Loveless, a sibling of the plaintiff and defendant, was appointed as executor of the estate. Beginning in 2003, the suit claims, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency discovered a groundwater contamination plume. Although the Loveless property was not affected by the contamination, IEPA ordered Exxon/Mobil, the mine’s owner, to either buy the property to create a buffer zone or pay remediation to the property owners. In 2006, Exxon/Mobile offered to buy the property for $1.3 million. That offer apparently was pending when Lance Loveless died suddenly in May 2007. Since Lance Loveless had no children died without having written a will, his share of the estate was divided equally between Salinas and Bruce Loveless and both were appointed as co-executors of the Lance Loveless and Randall Loveless estates. Acting independently from Bruce Loveless, Salinas negotiated with Exxon/Mobil on her own and secured an offer in April 2008 of $2.3 million for the property. The suit alleges that Bruce Loveless independently owned 30 acres that was subject to purchase by Exxon/Mobil, and that he used his position as co-executor as leverage to negotiate a higher price for his property. Ultimately, Exxon/Mobil withdrew all offers and sold the mine property in January 2009. The suit claims Bruce Loveless wanted to use the proceeds from the sale of his own property to buy out his sister’s interest in the 195 acres of hunting/recreational land, which he continues to use for that purpose currently. Loveless resisted partitioning the property, according to the suit, essentially forcing Salinas to retain an ownership interest in both parcels without realizing any income from either of them. The suit claims that 35 percent of the Loveless estate is devoted to a trust fund for Randall Loveless’ grandchildren, but that Bruce Loveless’ management of the property and the estate has not been the best interest of the trust. The suit demands a jury trial.

SMALL CLAIMS

Kravanya Funeral Homes, Ltd., Gillespie, is suing Matt Aydt, Lebanon, for $8,726.50, plus $589.03 in interest, and attorney fees and court costs, that the plaintiff claims is owed for funeral goods and services provided for the defendant’s mother in June 2014.

Bertinetti & Cain Attorneys at Law, Carlinville, is suing Jason W. Cairns, Brighton, for $1,190, plus court costs, allegedly owed to the firm.

FELONIES

Ryan E. Heeren, 34, Gillespie, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of weapons, aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of a weapon by a felon, and unlawful use of a weapon. In addition to the four felony complaints, Heeren faces traffic charges for driving on a revoked driver’s license, making an improper turn signal, speeding 26 to 34 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, failure to dim headlights when required and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver. Heeren, convicted of a felony in Macoupin County in 2015, allegedly was in possession of an AR-15 rifle that was loaded, uncased and immediately accessible to him when police stopped the black Chevrolet Silverado he was driving on Dec. 28 on Illinois Route 16 near Red School Road. Heeren also is accused of being in possession of a silencer for the firearm. The driving under the influence of alcohol charge was elevated to a felony during to previous convictions for the same offense on Heeren’s record from Dec. 17, 2008, Feb. 23, 2009, and Jan. 7, 2015, all in Macoupin County.

Angela Waugh, 44, Gillespie, is charged with aggravated battery and domestic battery in connection with a Dec. 28 incident during which she allegedly poked her spouse multiple times in the face and chest, and kicked a Gillespie police officer in the leg.

Jeffrey K. Wright, 43, Worden, is charged with driving on a revoked driver’s license in connection with a Dec. 5 incident on Fosterburg Road. The charge was elevated to a felony due to previous convictions for the same offense on Wright’s record from July 30, 2009, and March 8, 2012, both in Madison County. In addition to the felony, Wright faces traffic charges for operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, driving a vehicle with no valid registration and failure to transfer title.

Jeffrey D. Boaz, 40, Gillespie, is charged with possession of a controlled substance in connection with a July 29 incident in Gillespie during which he allegedly possessed an unspecified quantity of Dihydrocodeinone.

Charlie Stainback, 23, Shipman, is charged with possession of a controlled substance in connection with an Aug. 8 incident during which he allegedly possessed an unspecified quantity of a substance containing cocaine.

MISDEMEANORS

Justin A. Boomsworth, 32, Brighton, is charged with domestic battery in connection with a Dec. 27 incident in Brighton during which he allegedly pushed the mother of his children down a set of stairs.

Corben Lee Wade, 18, Palmyra, is charged with unlawful consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of 21 in connection with a Dec. 27 incident on Harmony Road near Modesto. In addition, Wade was cited for an improper turn signal and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver.

Lawrence Haustein, 20, Staunton, is charged with criminal sexual abuse in connection with an incident during which he allegedly had sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 17 at a time when he was less than five years older than the victim.

Cory C. Curry, 29, Gillespie, is charged with disorderly conduct in connection with a Dec. 4 incident during which he allegedly yelled at and threatened another male in Benld.

Cheyenne R. Jones, 24, Carlinville, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with an Aug. 4 incident during which she allegedly possessed a red pipe used for smoking cannabis.

William R. Werner, 19, Gillespie, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis in connection with an incident in Gillespie during which he allegedly possessed a silver smoking device used for smoking cannabis and less than 2.5 grams of a substance containing cannabis.

Anthony M. Bellm, 24, Carlinville, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with an Aug. 3 incident during which he allegedly possessed a purple pipe used for smoking cannabis.

Jason P. Sharp, 34, Chicago, is charged with possession of cannabis in connection with a March 30 incident during which he allegedly possessed less than 2.5 grams of a substance containing cannabis.

Christina M. McAllister, 29, Palmyra, is charged with battery in connection with a Nov. 13 incident in Palmyra during which she allegedly punched a female in the face.

Kevin S. Raymer, 51, Wilsonville is charged with violation of an owner’s duties for allegedly failing to provide adequate quantities of food and water for his two dogs, a St. Bernard mix and a Labrador mix.

William D. Gray, 35, Staunton, is charged with domestic battery in connection with a Jan. 1 incident during which he allegedly threw his wife to the ground.

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MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Edward Dean Blake, Gillespie, and Hollie Raye Bartle, Staunton.
• Paul C. Boston and Elizabeth R. Gum, both of Carlinville.

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