Latest news with #ChampaignCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Urbana man arrested, accused of possessing child sexual abuse material
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. — An Urbana man is facing charges of child pornography possession. In March of 2024, the Champaign County Sheriff's Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). According to the tip, 26-year-old Jesus Gonzalez-Martinez was in possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Decatur man accused of possessing child sex abuse material The sheriff's office conducted a 'thorough investigation,' and detectives confirmed that the material was linked to Gonzalez-Martinez. He was arrested, and police said he later confessed to possessing the material. Now, Gonzalez-Martinez is facing three counts of child pornography possession. On Thursday, he appeared in court for his arraignment, entered a plea of not guilty and requested a trial by jury. On Friday, he'll be back in court for a detention hearing. The Champaign County Sheriff's Department said that this remains an 'active and ongoing investigation.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
‘Click it or Ticket' ahead of Memorial Day, Champaign Co. Sheriff says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — With Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer approaching, the Champaign County Sheriff's Office is reminding drivers to 'Click it or Ticket,' especially that weekend and in the week leading up to it. Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said his office will be taking part in a nationwide high-visibility seatbelt enforcement initiative starting May 16 and going through Memorial Day. Deputies will be taking a 'no-excuses' approach to enforcement and will issue citations at both day and night. 'Seat belt use should be an automatic habit for everyone,' Sheriff Heuerman said. 'It's not just safe; it's the law. During this campaign, law enforcement agencies will be working together to ensure the message reaches all drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest way to reduce injury or save a life in a crash.' Boone reappointed as Urbana Police Chief Heuerman added that the State of Illinois achieved a commendable 92.4% daytime seatbelt usage last year, but that means 7.6% of people still need to be reminded. While enforcement will happen at both day and night, a key focus of the 'Click it or Ticket' campaign is on nighttime enforcement, when crash data in Illinois indicated fatal crashes happen more. Illinois enacted its seatbelt law 40 years ago, becoming the third state in the nation to require seatbelt use for all vehicle occupants. The law was upgraded in 2003, allowing police officers to pull over and ticket drivers solely for failing to buckle up, and that led to a significant increase in compliance. Data shows seat belt usage surged from 16% in 1985 to 92.4% in 2024. The 'Click It or Ticket' campaign is funded with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Champaign Co. man accused of stabbing wife during domestic incident
URBANA TOWNSHIP, Ill. (WCIA) — An Urbana Township man is under arrest after the Champaign County Sheriff's Office said he stabbed his wife during a domestic dispute Sunday night. Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said in a release Monday afternoon that the stabbing happened around 8 p.m. on Gurth Drive. Deputies were called by a third party on behalf of the victim, and they arrived to find a 54-year-old woman with a stab wound. The victim was taken to Carle Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition. Urbana Police, Crime Stoppers looking for tips in 2021 murder investigation Her husband, 51-year-old Rafael Magdaleno-Mendoza, was arrested without incident at the home. He is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and aggravated domestic battery, and he remains in custody awaiting an initial court hearing on Tuesday. Heuerman also asked that anyone who has additional information on this incident calls 217-384-1213. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by calling 217-373-8477, visiting their website or by using the P3 Tips app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
School admin fired, charged with endangering children
ST. PARIS, Ohio (WDTN) — A St. Paris school administrator has been terminated and charged after allegedly choking a 13-year-old student. A Champaign County Grand Jury charged Emilio Valdez with strangulation and endangering children this week. Death of man in custody ruled homicide: Coroner According to the Champaign County Sheriff's Office, Valdez assaulted and strangled a student back in February while working at Operation Rebirth, a private Christian academy for boys. The school says they placed Valdez on leave when they learned about the incident. School officials later terminated Valdez on March 31 after an internal review. Officials say another student has also come forward with allegations, with an additional investigation now underway. Valdez's spouse, who also worked at the school, is also said to have voluntarily resigned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Champaign County Sheriff's Office completes move to Bennett Administrative Center
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday they have fully moved out of the Brookens Administrative Center and into its new home. In a Facebook post Thursday morning, the sheriff's office said that their relocation into the Bennett Administrative Center has been complete. This new building is located directly West of the Brookens Center and is still across the street from the Champaign County Courthouse. PREVIOUSLY: Champaign County offices ready to move into Bennett Center Additionally, visitor parking is not yet available, but there is metered parking on all sides of the Bennett Center. People are asked to enter the building on the first floor on the south side, turn left and take the elevator or stairs to the fourth floor. 'We are all still getting adjusted to our new space, so please be kind and patient,' the sheriff's office said in its post. For additional help in finding the office, call them at 217-384-1204. At this time, not all of the county offices have moved into the new building yet. For updates on when these offices are set to relocate, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
