PEORIA, Ill. — Two Bartonville, Ill., men have avoided jail time through a plea bargain regarding charges they derailed a Union Pacific locomotive late last year.
Jimmy Johnson, 20, and Caleb Finley, 18, pleaded guilty last week to charges of damage to railroad property, a Class 4 felony, WCBU radio reports. They were sentenced in Peoria County Circuit Court to 30 months of probation, must perform 100 hours of community service within the next year, and paid $1.075 in fees.
They had faced up to three years in prison, but entered into plea agreements a week before their trial was set to begin, WEEK-TV reports.
The two men were arrested Nov. 18, 2024, after allegedly moving a derailing device and derailing a UP locomotive just outside of Bartonville, causing some $80,000 in damage. [See “Two arrested in derailment …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 19, 2024].
Besides the obviously lack of punishment, 100 hours of community service is too low for what they did.
Note: Back in my younger days, judges, if they wanted to show some mercy, would suspend sentences if they joined the Marines and went on to receive an Honorable Discharge.
100 hours of community service? What about the “and paid $1.075 in fees.” Either that is a typo and the real answer is $1,075.00 in fees or Illinois needs to look at fees as more of a deterrent. A buck seven and a half doesn’t deterre any one. They should have got all or half the time plus a hefty fee that would remind them just how stupid they were. Meanwhile the UP is stuck with an $80,000 dollar repair bill because of the act of obvious imbeciles. But at least the parks will be cleaner, the fire hydrants prettier and the jails will not have a couple of “Nancy’s” to worry about… until next time… Hopefully there won’t be a nect time but I highly doubt it…
But they were good boys….
Should have made them each pay UP $40,000 as well.
Time in prison for doing those things except in Illinois. Nothing about any restitution.
Should have been the maximum sentence these Zoomers are giving Railfans and YouTube a bad name. We do not cut derails, we do not throw switches, we do not open electronic locks, and we do not place shunts! All of those are felonies and you can get time in prison for doing that.
Except in this case… Should just be glad I guess that no one got killed in the process…