Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross announces that a Grand Jury has returned an indictment against a Rockford man for a sexual assault that happened at Auburn High School in 2013.
On March 15th, 2013, a female student reported to the Auburn High School nurse that she had been sexually assaulted by another student inside the school.
Rockford Police Detectives conducted a follow up investigation and the defendant, James N. Smith Johnson (D.O.B. 6/9/1996) was developed as a suspect. The investigation was reviewed by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office and charges were authorized against Smith Johnson.
On April 16th, 2019, a warrant was issued for the defendant and he was arrested and booked in to the Winnebago County Jail on $100,000 bond. Smith Johnson was recently indicted by a Winnebago County Grand Jury on Criminal Sexual Assault charges.
Criminal Sexual Assault is a Class 1 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by two years of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Smith Johnson is currently in custody at the Winnebago County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment at 9:00am on April 25th, 2019, in front of the Honorable Judge Brendan Maher in Courtroom D at the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center.
The charges are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross announces that four individuals have been indicted by a Grand Jury for a murder that happened at a Rockford business last November.
On November 13th, 2018, Rockford Police were called to 2602 Auburn Street in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, Officers located one male victim and one female victim in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Taco Bell Restaurant. Both victims were transported to a local hospital where the male was pronounced deceased. He was later identified as Zachary Reyes, 25 of Rockford. The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined Reyes’ cause of death to be from a gunshot wound. A 37-year-old female was seriously hurt, but survived. The investigation was reviewed by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office and as a result, charges were authorized against two juveniles and two adults. All four defendants were recently indicted by a Winnebago County Grand Jury on the charges below.
Mycarlo Gunn (D.O.B. 12/12/1996) of Chicago faces multiple counts of First Degree Murder, Attempt First Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Attempt Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Mob Action Charges.
Qydennie Simmons (D.O.B. 4/10/1976) of Tennessee faces multiple counts of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Attempt Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon and Mob Action Charges.
Demarco Ford (D.O.B. 7/10/2000) of Rockford faces multiple counts of First Degree Murder, Attempt First Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Attempt Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery and Mob Action Charges.
Shy’Marko Jackson (D.O.B. 5/13/2001) of Rockford faces multiple counts of First Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm, Attempt Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Possession of a Firearm without Requisite Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and Mob Action Charges.
On April 9th, 2019, Mycarlo Gunn was arrested during a traffic stop in Rockford. He is currently in custody at the Winnebago County Jail. Gunn is scheduled to be arraigned on the bill of indictment at 9:00am on May 16th, 2019 in Courtroom B of the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center.
Ford is currently in custody at the Winnebago County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the bill of indictment at 8:30am on May 9th, 2019, in Courtroom D of the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center.
Jackson is currently in custody at the Juvenile Detention Center. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the bill of indictment at 8:30am on May 9th, 2019, in Courtroom D of the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center.
Simmons is still at large and is pictured below. Anyone with information on Simmons’ whereabouts is encouraged to call Rockford Police (815) 966-2900 or Rockford Area Crime Stoppers (815) 963-7867.
First Degree Murder is a Class M Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 20-60 years in the Illinois Department Corrections with an additional 15 years to Natural Life followed by three years of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Aggravated Battery with a Firearm is a Class X Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 6-30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with an additional 15 years to Natural Life followed by three years of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm is a Class 1 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by two years of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Attempt Armed Robbery is a Class 1 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 4 -15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by two years of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery is a Class 1 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by two years of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Unlawful Use of Weapons by a Felon is a Class 3 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 2-10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by a year of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Possession of a Firearm without a Requisite Firearm Owners Identification Card is a Class 3 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 2-5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by a year of Mandatory Supervised Release.
Mob Action is a Class 4 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 1-3 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by a year of Mandatory Supervised Release.
The charges are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross announces that on April 23rd, 2019, Marchello D. Johnson (D.O.B. 1/28/2000) was found guilty of two counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm after a jury trial in front of the Honorable Judge Ronald White.
On March 18th, 2018, Cherry Valley Police, Rockford Police and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to 7200 Harrison Avenue after a report of a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and the investigation revealed that shots had been fired between two vehicles outside the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at CherryVale Mall.
Detectives conducted a follow up investigation and the defendant, Marchello Johnson, was developed as a suspect. The investigation was reviewed by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office, and charges were authorized against Johnson. He was subsequently indicted by a Winnebago County Grand Jury.
Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm is a Class 1 Felony that is punishable by a sentence of 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by two years of Mandatory Supervised Release. The defendant is eligible for an extended term of 4-30 years in prison due to his prior criminal record.
Johnson is scheduled to appear in front of the Honorable Judge White at 1:00pm on April 25th, 2019, in Courtroom 316.
Sources are reporting a shooting victim that arrived at a local hospital earlier today. The shooting victim arrived at RMH on N Rockton around 9 am this morning.
It is unknown on the victims condition.
Also unknown on the exact details of the shooting incident. RPD has confirmed they are investigating an aggravated battery.
No other details at this time.
Unknown if it is related: Around the same time frame the Fairview Early Childhood Center was on lockdown “Due to police activity in the area” so this might be the area where the actual shooting may have taken place, but not confirmed.
Stolen Vehicle and Foot Pursuit
Ends in Several Arrests
On 04-24-2019 AT 1:15 pm Officers from The Janesville Police Department were dispatched to the 2615 Milton Avenue for a gas drive off. The reporting person in this incident followed the vehicle giving a partial plate. Officer Briggs located the vehicle at 2500 Milton Avenue. Once officers had the correct license plate number the Rock County Communications Center advised the vehicle was stolen, and the suspects may be armed.
Officer Briggs watched the unoccupied vehicle until the 5 juvenile suspects exited the Janesville Mall. Those 5 juveniles got to the vehicle and left a puppy, they just stole from Fury Babies behind in the vehicle. They then fled from the area on foot in two different directions.
Several Officers gave chase on foot and were able to apprehend the five juveniles in 4 different locations around the area. Three were taken in to custody near Woodman’s Grocery, and two at Kentucky Fried Chicken. One of the two juveniles inside KFC had a loaded 9 mm handgun in his possession.
The stolen vehicle was a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee reported stolen from The Town of Middleton on 4-22-2019. The Janesville Police Department recovered the Jeep at 2500 Milton Avenue. There were several items of property found in the vehicle, along with several sets of car keys. Those items are being investigated to determine what other cases they relate to.
All five juveniles have been returned to Dane County and will be going to the juvenile detention center on several charges.
Arrested
14 year old
943.23(1)(a) OMVWOC
946.41(1) Resisting an Officer
961.41(3g)(e) Possession of THC
15 year old
943.23(1)(a) OMVWOC
946.41(1) Resisting an Officer
943.50(1)(m) Retail Theft
15 year old
943.23(1)(a) OMVWOC
946.41(1) Resisting an Officer
941. 23 Carry Concealed Weapon
16 year old
943.23(1)(a) OMVWOC
943.50(1)(m) Retail Theft
16 year old
943.23(1)(a) OMVWOC
946.41(1) Resisting an Officer
943.50(1)(m) Retail Theft
Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3:6 Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
