JACKSON COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY
Joseph A. Cervantez, State’s Attorney
Jackson County Courthouse • 1001 Walnut Street • Third Floor • Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618) 687-7200 • Fax (618) 687-7215
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joseph A. Cervantez, State’s Attorney
March 2, 2022
Jackson County State’s Attorney, Joseph A. Cervantez, announced today that the following three individuals are just the latest of many individuals who have been arrested and charged for gun related offenses over the last several months. Cervantez explained that “law enforcement has been laser focused on investigating shootings and as a result, we have been successful on the prosecution side.”
State’s Attorney Cervantez emphasized that “the charges filed are not evidence of guilt—a defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which this office has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Marlin J. Brown, age 43, of Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with Armed Habitual Criminal, a Class X Felony, for his alleged involvement with a February 18th, 2022, shooting incident in Carbondale, Illinois. His bond has been set at $75,000.
Keon L. Foulks, age 18, of Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony, and two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use a Weapon, a Class 4 Felony, for his alleged involvement with a February 18th, 2022, shooting incident in Carbondale, Illinois. His bond has been set at $500,000.
Keavonte T. Nesby, age 20, of Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony, and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use a Weapon, a Class 4 Felony, for his alleged involvement with a February 18th, 2022, shooting incident in Carbondale, Illinois. His bond has been set at $500,000.
Darrion P.M. Sentz, age 21, of Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony, along with other firearm offenses, for his alleged involvement with a December shooting incident in Carbondale, Illinois. His bond has been set at $200,000.
Julius C. Kitt, age 23, of Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony, along with other firearm offenses, for his alleged involvement with a December shooting incident in Carbondale, Illinois. His bond has been set at $200,000.
Micah D. Jones, age 27, of Carbondale, Illinois, has been charged with one count of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony, and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use a Weapon, a Class 4 Felony, for his alleged involvement with a December shooting incident in Carbondale, Illinois. His bond has been set at $200,000.
State’s Attorney Cervantez explained today that while his office handles a wide variety of matters, it’s certainly had an increased focus on gun crimes since the Summer of 2021. “I will be the first to agree that the criminal justice system needs improvement, that our community needs more resources, and that rehabilitation and diversion programs are valuable tools, but my job as a State’s Attorney is to strike the correct balance. Shooters and other violent offenders will be held accountable and there will be consequences if you decide to use a gun," State’s Attorney Cervantez stressed that “Our office will continue seeking high bonds in gun related cases to maintain public safety. Every offender will be held accountable.”
Carbondale Police Chief Stan Reno commented, “The Carbondale Police Department is committed to diligently investigating all violent crime cases in the City and presenting the cases to State’s Attorney Cervantez for prosecution. Anyone involved with a firearm related offense can expect to be arrested and held accountable. We will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to end violent crime and remove violent offenders from Carbondale.”
A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate. This responsibility carries with it specic obligations to see that the defendant is accorded procedural justice and that guilt is decided upon the basis of sufficient evidence. Except for statements that are necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor’s action and that serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose, by Supreme Court Rule, the State’s Attorney is not allowed to make statements about pending cases or investigations which would pose a serious and imminent threat to the fairness of the proceeding. Rule 3.8 Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. For a list of certain subjects which have been determined to pose such a threat to the fairness of the proceedings and for a list of subjects which do not, please see Rule 3.6 Trial Publicity. For any press release involving a case which has not yet been tried, please note that: a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the jury.