LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
PARIS — A jury trial scheduled for Sept. 14 for Jesse L. Kollman was vacated Thursday, Aug. 20, after the 25-year-old pleaded guilty to mob action in Edgar County Court and was sentenced to 3½ years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
“Thanks to the hard work of the Paris Police Department and Illinois State Police, Jesse Kollman has been sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison for his role in the incident at White Oak Park involving the discharge of a shotgun and endangering others,” Edgar County State’s Attorney Philip Dobelstein said in a statement to The Prairie Press. “Similar to the case involving his co-defendant and brother, Jordan Kollman, this outcome holds him accountable for his reckless and dangerous actions and underscores my office’s commitment to public safety and the rule of law.”
Kollman appeared before Hon. Matthew L. Sullivan in the custody of the Edgar County Sheriff's Department. He was represented by attorney Lupita Thompson.
Under the plea agreement, Kollman pleaded guilty to Count III, a Class 4 felony for mob action involving force, or two or more people. In exchange, the state dismissed charges of attempted murder, a Class X felony, and hate crime, a Class 3 felony.
The charges stem from an April 3 incident at White Oaks Park in Paris involving Kollman, his brother Jordan Kollman and Jayden Reynolds, as well as three black men who were at the park that night.
According to the factual basis presented in court Thursday, Paris police were called to White Oaks Park shortly before midnight following an altercation involving several people. The state said Tajon King, Danville alderman Jaleel Jones and Dwayne Williams reported being threatened and harassed by Jesse and Jordan Kollman and another individual.
The state further said threats were exchanged during the confrontation and that Jordan Kollman discharged a shotgun into the air and pointed it toward the other men.
During Thursday's hearing, Sullivan explained to Kollman that the mob action charge ordinarily carries a sentence of one to three years in prison. Because of Kollman's prior criminal history, however, the charge was eligible for an extended-term sentence of three to six years.
Kollman acknowledged that he understood the possible penalties and the terms of the plea agreement. He also acknowledged his right to have the case decided by either a jury or a judge and confirmed that he was giving up those rights voluntarily.
The state presented information regarding Kollman's criminal history, including prior cases involving possession of methamphetamine, criminal damage to property, felony possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary.
After the court accepted his guilty plea, Sullivan sentenced Kollman to 3½ years in IDOC, or 42 months. He received credit for 131 days served from April 12 through Aug. 20.
Kollman was also ordered to pay a fine, scheduled assessments and a public defender assessment. He was remanded to the custody of the Edgar County Sheriff's Department pending transportation to IDOC.
Thursday's hearing came less than two weeks after Kollman's brother, Jordan Kollman, resolved his case in connection with the same White Oaks Park incident.
With Jesse Kollman's guilty plea, both brothers have now resolved their Edgar County cases stemming from the April 3 incident through plea agreements.
The third individual charged in connection with the case, Jayden Reynolds, is scheduled to appear in court Friday, Aug. 21.