Former Ill. Prosecutor Has Probation Revoked

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said a former Macon County assistant state’s attorney is going to jail after his probation was revoked for a July 2003 conviction on two counts of reckless conduct.

Former Assistant State’s Attorney Jerry G. Finney, 57, of Greencastle, Indiana, was sentenced to 12 months probation stemming from a December 2001 incident in which Finney reportedly backed into a person who was attempting to repossess his car, then attempted to speed away with the person on the trunk of the car. Finney appealed his conviction to the 4 th District Appellate Court, which upheld the conviction Oct. 4.

In court, Chief Circuit Court Judge John Shonkwiler of Piatt County ordered Finney to immediately begin serving 120 days in the Macon County Jail. Documents presented at a revocation hearing last month noted Finney was reportedly more than one year late in paying restitution of $558.91 to the victim and court-ordered costs and probation services fees.

“Today, Mr. Finney found out that no one is above the law,” Madigan said. “This is a valuable lesson he should have learned long ago.”

Among other violations of his probation, Finney reportedly failed to complete a required anger management course, did not perform any of the required 60 hours of community service, did not show up for scheduled appearances at the Macon County Probation Department, and left Illinois to reside in Indiana without permission of the court.