EDWARDSVILLE – A Cottage Hills man faces multiple drug- and weapons-related charges filed Wednesday by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
William C. Forbes, 63, of Cottage Hills, was charged June 29 with armed violence, unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, all Class X felonies unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony; two counts of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, both Class 3 felonies; and escape, a Class 3 felony.
The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
According to court documents, on June 28 Forbes allegedly had 15-100 grams of methamphetamine, 15 grams or more of LSD or its components, and 1 gram or more of cocaine, all with intent to deliver. He also allegedly had a .22 caliber Chiappa revolver and a .22 caliber American Tactical Firefly semi-automatic handgun, and he allegedly failed to return from a furlough on or before Jan. 12, 2022 after a 2021 conviction for felony driving while license revoked out of Madison County.
The armed violence charge stems from the presence of weapons during the drug-related crimes.
It was noted that the felony conviction makes it illegal for him to possess weapons.
In November Forbes was charged for the seventh time for driving while license revoked. Court records at the time noted his license was revoked in 1985 for a DUI and he has convictions for driving while revoked in 1985, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2020.
In an unrelated case, Darius D. Hearn, 21, of Alton, was charged June 3 with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony; failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death, a Class 2 felony; and reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony.
The charges were suppressed June 3 and released June 30. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department.
According to court documents, Hearn allegedly was driving a vehicle in the 300 block of Mitchell Street Alton, and “had knowledge of or gave consent to his passenger” to fire a gun from the vehicle. He allegedly was involved in an accident at the intersection of Mitchell and Belle streets that resulted in injuries to a 16-year-old girl but failed to report the accident.
Other felony charges filed June 30 include:
• Todd A. Willis Jr., 33, of East St. Louis, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on June 29 Willis allegedly had a Taurus 9 mm handgun. He has a 2013 conviction for domestic battery (second subsequent offense) out of Madison County, making him ineligible to possess weapons. Bail was set at $50,000.
• Jaila K. Lane, 25, of Cahokia, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29 Lane allegedly struck a man in the face and arms with a tire iron. Bail was set at $50,000.
• Melissa Minton, 28, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On June 29 Minton allegedly struck a senior citizen in the face with a closed fist. Bail was set at $30,000.
• Mary E. Pinkerton, 49, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On June 30 Pinkerton allegedly took a swing at a Granite City police officer and resisted the officer’s attempts to arrest her. Bail was set at $30,000.
• John W. Burch III, 43, of Highland, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Highland Police Department. On April 21 Burch allegedly caused in excess of $500 damage to a slot machine owned by Prairie State Gaming, and located at 1 Central Boulevard, Highland. Bail was set at $15,000.
Trained as a photojournalist, Scott Cousins has 40 years of experience covering all aspects of news, primarily in the Metro East. His primary beats for The Telegraph in Alton include Madison County government and criminal filings, and he remains committed to the idea that a newspaper's first responsibility is to inform the public about what government is doing.