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Exemplary Citizen Awards





The Exemplary Citizen Award is presented by the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office to those civilians who go above and beyond to assist local law enforcement in fighting crime, keeping the public safe, and bringing justice to crime victims. These unsung heroes have rightfully earned the honor of being named Exemplary Citizens.



2016 EXEMPLARY CITIZENS


Tisha Goad

In recognition and appreciation of your actions, after observing a driver asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the day, for stopping to render aid for what appeared to be a possible medical emergency, attempting to awaken the driver, and, when you noticed open alcohol in his possession, notifying the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, which led to his arrest for Driving Under the Influence.

Stacie Fortune

In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to public safety you displayed when, after being stopped at a railroad crossing and noticing that the car in front of you failed to move after the train passed, you approached the car to check on the driver, who was asleep and unable to be awakened and who had two small children unrestrained in the car, which led to the arrest of the driver, who had a breath alcohol content more than 4½ times the legal limit, and her conviction for the crime of Aggravated DUI.



Adrianna Taylor

In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to public safety you displayed when, after being stopped at a railroad crossing and noticing that the car in front of you failed to move after the train passed, you approached the car to check on the driver, who was asleep and unable to be awakened and who had two small children unrestrained in the car, then called 911, which resulted in the arrest of the driver, who had a breath alcohol content more than 4½ times the legal limit, and her conviction for the crime of Aggravated DUI.

Torience Willis-Stepney

In recognition and appreciation of your actions after being robbed at gunpoint, forced to enter the robbers’ stolen truck, and taken to a gas station where the robbers planned to re-fuel the truck, for remaining calm and thinking quickly in convincing them that the diesel truck would run on gasoline, which shortly after your release by the robbers caused the truck to stall, which resulted in the recovery of two illegally possessed handguns and the arrests, convictions, and prison sentences of all three Armed Robbers.

Taseua Richardson

In recognition and appreciation of the vigilance you exhibited at your place of employment when you recognized that an elderly gentleman who was attempting to send a large sum of money was the target of a fraudulent scheme, convinced him of that fact, and thereby prevented him from falling victim to the Government Grant Scam.

Aleasha Patterson

In recognition and appreciation of the vigilance you exhibited at your place of employment when you recognized that an elderly gentleman who was attempting to send a large sum of money was the target of a fraudulent scheme, convinced him of that fact, and thereby prevented him from falling victim to the Government Grant Scam.

Marilyn Dobbins

In recognition and appreciation of the vigilance you exhibited at your place of employment when you recognized that an elderly gentleman who was attempting to send a large sum of money was the target of a fraudulent scheme, convinced him of that fact, and thereby prevented him from falling victim to the Government Grant Scam.

Jonathan D. Shull

In recognition and appreciation of your actions, after becoming aware of suspicious activity in your neighborhood, for installing a motion activated trail camera which captured images of an individual in possession of an ATV stolen from a Senior Citizen, which resulted in solving the crime, recovering the stolen ATV, and the offender’s arrest, prosecution, and conviction for the crime of Theft.

Rebecca Bills

In recognition and appreciation of the compassion you exhibited when, while standing in line at Walmart and learning that an elderly gentleman was about to send several thousand dollars to India, you convinced him that he was being scammed, and thereby prevented him from losing his money and becoming a victim.

Carra Thompson

In recognition and appreciation of the dedication to justice you displayed after observing a man strike his girlfriend outside your place of employment, for reporting the incident to the police and cooperating with the investigation, and for appearing in court and testifying, which ultimately resulted in the abuser’s conviction and prison sentence for the crime of Aggravated Battery.

Janet Beck

In recognition and appreciation of your actions upon learning of suspicious conduct by an accountant for an elderly couple, for causing the matter to be referred to the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office Elderly Victims Crime Unit, which generated an investigation uncovering fraudulent activity by the accountant, and resulted in his conviction for the crime of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person and payment of full restitution to the victims.



Lori Norville

In recognition and appreciation of your actions upon becoming suspicious of the activities of an accountant for an elderly couple for which you serve as Financial Power of Attorney, for reporting your concerns to the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office Elderly Victims Crime Unit, which generated an investigation uncovering fraudulent activity by the accountant, and resulted in his conviction for the crime of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person and payment of full restitution to the victims.

Tempestt Rawls

In recognition and appreciation of the courage you displayed in coming forward with information, cooperating with law enforcement, and testifying at the trial of a defendant who killed an eyewitness in another murder case, which resulted in his conviction and lengthy prison sentence for the crime of First Degree Murder.

Kati Orton

In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to public safety you displayed when, after observing an intoxicated driver enter your place of employment with an alcoholic beverage in his hand, you notified the Decatur Police Department and provided a detailed description of the driver and his vehicle, which became vital evidence in the prosecution of the driver and helped secure his conviction and lengthy prison sentence for the crime of Aggravated DUI.

Christine Vogel

In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to public safety you displayed when, after observing an intoxicated driver enter your place of employment with an alcoholic beverage in his hand, you notified the Decatur Police Department and provided a detailed description of the driver and his vehicle, which became vital evidence in the prosecution of the driver and helped secure his conviction and lengthy prison sentence for the crime of Aggravated DUI.

Pattie Brackett

In recognition and appreciation of your efforts in volunteering your time and talents during your summer vacation to paint a mural in the State’s Attorney’s Office, creating a more friendly environment for child victims coming to the courthouse.

Decatur Earthmover Credit Union

In recognition and appreciation of the commitment you displayed to child physical and sexual abuse victims by naming The Child 1st Center the Decatur Earthmover Credit Union Charity of the Year for 2016, and for all of your fundraising efforts on behalf of The Child 1st Center.

Tristan Larson


In recognition and appreciation of the courage you displayed when, being only 11 years old, and having been struck by a car while riding your bicycle to school, you cooperated with the police and prosecution and appeared in court and testified at trial, which resulted in a guilty verdict for the offense of Failure to Yield Right of Way to Pedestrian in Crosswalk.
Nettie Fowler

In recognition and appreciation of your actions, after overhearing your next door neighbor yelling at his son in a threatening manner the night he inflicted severe bodily injury to the child, for reporting your observations to the police, and for appearing in court and testifying, which helped ensure the conviction of the offender and a lengthy prison sentence for the crime of Aggravated Battery to a Child.

Matthew Bushell


In recognition and appreciation of the vigilance you exhibited after noticing a suspicious male in your neighborhood, by maintaining observation of him, for calling the police when you saw him enter the residence of an elderly neighbor, who was sound asleep, and for remaining at the scene until police arrived, at which point they apprehended the intoxicated man inside the victim’s house, which resulted in his arrest, conviction and prison sentence for crime of Criminal Trespass to Residence.




2015 Exemplary Citizens



Howard G. Buffett Foundation


In recognition and appreciation of your longstanding support of law enforcement, and in particular for the dedication you displayed to our Senior Citizens through your very generous grant to the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Elderly Victims Crime Unit which provides the unit with a full-time Elder Crimes Investigator.


Cristal Johnson


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to justice you exhibited when, after recognizing the obituary photograph of a recent customer you assisted at your place of employment, you contacted authorities and provided details of the transaction, which led to previously unknown, and highly valuable, information, which played a key role in obtaining the conviction of her husband for the crime of First Degree Murder.


Terri Wallace


In recognition and appreciation of the courage and calmness you displayed when you were the victim of an Armed Robbery at your place of employment, for providing detailed information to the police which led to the swift apprehension of the armed robber and his accomplice, and for appearing in court and testifying at the jury trial of the accomplice, which resulted in the convictions of both offenders for the crime of Armed Robbery.



Charles Durbin


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to justice you displayed when you, after observing a neighbor’s garage being burglarized, contacted police and maintained observation while the crime was being committed, which led to the swift arrest, prosecution, conviction and lengthy prison sentence of the offender for the crime of Burglary.


Ashley Durbin


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to justice you displayed when you, after observing a neighbor’s garage being burglarized, contacted police and maintained observation while the crime was being committed, which led to the swift arrest, prosecution, conviction and lengthy prison sentence of the offender for the crime of Burglary.


Robert Shafer


In recognition of the commitment to public safety you exhibited when you responded to a single vehicle traffic crash, determined that the driver, who was attempting to get his vehicle unstuck in order to drive from the scene of the crash, was under the influence of alcohol, convinced the offender to push on the vehicle while you drove, at which point you took possession of the vehicle keys and refused to give them to the driver, who had three prior convictions for DUI and a breath alcohol content three times the legal limit, which resulted in his arrest, conviction, and prison sentence for the crime of Aggravated DUI.


Donald Hall


In recognition of the commitment to public safety you exhibited when you responded to a single vehicle traffic crash involving an intoxicated driver with three prior DUI convictions and a breath alcohol content three times the legal driving limit, and for remaining at the scene to insure the safety of another citizen who had taken the vehicle keys and refused to give them back to the driver, which terminated the driver’s efforts to leave the scene, thereby ensuring his arrest, conviction, and prison sentence for Aggravated DUI.



Marshall J. Edwards


In recognition and appreciation of the dedication to justice you displayed when you observed a shoplifter fleeing from a local store, followed the offender, and provided a detailed description of him and his location to the police, which resulted in the offender’s quick apprehension and ultimate guilty plea to the crime of Felony Retail Theft.



Tyler Procarione


In recognition and appreciation of the dedication you displayed to law enforcement when you observed two suspects breaking into a local business, notified the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, and provided detailed information as to the description of the suspects and their vehicle, which led to their swift apprehension and ultimate convictions.


Codie Miller


In recognition and appreciation of the dedication you displayed to law enforcement when you observed two suspects breaking into a local business, notified the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, and provided detailed information as to the description of the suspects and their vehicle, which led to their swift apprehension and ultimate convictions.


Tegan Halkitis


In recognition and appreciation of the vigilance you displayed when you observed a motor vehicle burglary in progress outside your place of employment, called 911 and provided detailed suspect information to the police, and positively identified the offender in a street show-up, which resulted in his conviction for the crime of Burglary.


James Killings


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to justice you exhibited when, being an eyewitness to a fatal shooting, you immediately cooperated with the police, identified the shooter in a photo lineup, provided key evidence as to how the shooter fled from the scene, fully cooperated with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office during trial preparation, and provided valuable testimony at trial, which resulted in the shooter’s conviction and 72 year sentence for the crime of First Degree Murder.



2014 Exemplary Citizens



Aaron Sheumaker


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to justice you displayed when, being only twelve years of age, you witnessed a Burglary to a neighbor’s house, notified your mother, gave a detailed statement of the crime to police, identified the offender in a show-up, and appeared in court to testify, all of which led to the guilty plea and 20 year prison sentence of a career criminal.

Paul Logan


In recognition and appreciation of the courage you displayed when you confronted masked, armed criminals approaching your neighbor’s home to commit a Home Invasion, thereby preventing the crime from being committed, and leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of two felons.

Stevene McGee


In acknowledgement of the dedication to justice you displayed when you became aware that a career criminal was attempting to sell a stolen iPod, took custody of the iPod and refused to give it back, and notified the police of the crime, thereby leading to the arrest, prosecution, conviction and prison sentence of the offender.




Dan Cooley


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to law enforcement you exhibited when, becoming aware that convicted felons were in possession of firearms in your business, The Bullet Trap, you notified authorities and provided valuable evidence which led to the recovery of an illegally possessed firearm and the arrest, prosecution, conviction, and prison sentences of three armed criminals.

Sandi Sweeny


In recognition and appreciation of your efforts in immediately responding to the screams of an elderly female robbery victim, whose purse had just been violently taken from her, which led to the swift apprehension and arrest of the offender.

Daniel Sweeny


In recognition and appreciation of your efforts in immediately responding to the screams of an elderly female robbery victim, whose purse had just been violently taken from her, which led to the swift apprehension and arrest of the offender.

Tony Caccomo


In recognition of the dedication you displayed to our Senior Citizens by envisioning the Elder Fraud Hotline, and for outstanding effort in donating your time, talents, and resources to assist in establishing the Elder Fraud Hotline, and in the production and distribution of Elder Fraud Hotline posters.

Michael Carr


In recognition of the dedication you displayed to our Senior Citizens by assisting in establishing the Elder Fraud Hotline, and in donating your time, talents, and resources to the design and printing of Elder Fraud Hotline posters.

Wayne Allen


In recognition of the dedication you displayed to our Senior Citizens by assisting in establishing the Elder Fraud Hotline, and in donating your time, talents, and resources to the design and printing of Elder Fraud Hotline posters.



Frederick Holmes


In recognition of your commitment to ensuring that justice was done in the case in which you were a victim of Aggravated Battery, for assisting in the prosecution of the case by taking your duty as a witness seriously, and for willingly appearing in court at the cost of a day’s work and pay, thereby securing a verdict of guilty.

Jim Forrester


In recognition of your efforts upon witnessing a hit and run collision involving an elderly victim, for following and identifying the driver of the offending vehicle, and by appearing in court to testify at trial shortly after undergoing major surgery, thereby enabling our office to proceed with the prosecution and to secure a conviction.

Tiffany Denton


In recognition and appreciation of your efforts in calling 911 upon witnessing a woman being violently attacked in the presence of her two young daughters outside of your place of employment, and for appearing in court and providing testimony of the incident, which led to the conviction for Aggravated Battery and the prison sentence of the offender.

Stephanie McCay – Citi Trends


In recognition and appreciation of the commitment to public safety and criminal justice you displayed as Manager of Citi Trends by ensuring that your employee, Tiffany Denton, was paid for a full day of work on the date she appeared in court and testified at the trial of a violent domestic offender who had attacked his girlfriend in the lot of your business, which resulted in his conviction and prison sentence for the crime of Aggravated Battery.

Rotary 180


In recognition of the dedication you displayed to our Senior Citizens and to the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office Elderly Victims Crime Unit by providing the funds for Elder Fraud Hotline refrigerator magnets.





253 E Wood St - 4th Floor Decatur, IL 62523
Phone 217.424.1400 Fax 217.424.1402
Email [email protected]