Martin cases further postponed due to COVID-19

June 1, 2020 15

HILLSBORO/JACKSONVILLE/SPRINGFIELD (Heartland Newsfeed) — We published a news report a month ago today regarding the arrest of Abigail L. Martin in Montgomery County. There hasn’t been much regarding changes relating to the cases, so this is based on information we have found.

Martin to appear again in Montgomery County in July

Martin (or her grandmother) acquires the legal counsel of Sean E. Rees of Brandenburg-Rees & Rees in Carlinville. Filings by Rees on May 4 were calling for discovery, speedy trial, jury demand, and entry of appearance with the intent of a not guilty plea. Bond was paid the same day, with an appearance in courtroom 3 on May 21 at 10 a.m.

State’s Attorney Bryant Hitchings made filings for a motion for discovery, as well as proof of service, on May 5.

The case gets interesting on May 13. Attorney Rees files withdrawal order proposal. An amended motion was filed by Rees eight days later. It is not currently certain what is prompting the withdrawal request. It’s not known whether the State’s evidence is quite strong or Rees did not receive payment for services.

On May 20, a bond appearance will take place at 9:30 a.m. on July 9.

Currently, the two charges still stand, but other potential charges are pending. No judge has received a designation for assignment in these cases.

Not much to report on Morgan and Sangamon county cases

In Morgan County, there — unfortunately — isn’t a whole lot to report. The only posted update came on May 6 via pre-trial video conference, when public defender Thomas Piper receives a notification via mail from Circuit Clerk Amy Sipes that he is to serve as Martin’s defense counsel. State’s Attorney Gray Noll and Martin were in attendance.

A pre-trial conference will take place at 9 a.m. on August 5.

No further updates are available on the Sangamon County forgery case as of publication.

For more local and Illinois state news, follow Jake Leonard @JakeLeonardWPMD, Ben Cox @Cox4Liberty and Heartland Newsfeed @HLNF_Bulletin on Twitter. Additionally, you can follow Heartland Newsfeed on Facebook and Reddit among other platforms.

Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.