”I’m not real happy about it, I know the Department of Corrections isn’t, either is the court”, said Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi. ”A total waste of taxpayer’s money”.
Sheley was brought to Morrison THursday morning, set to testify at the trial of his older brother Josh, at the request of the defense.
Minutes before he was to take the stand, Defense Attorney Janet Buttron bumped Nick Sheley from the witness list. Josh Sheley told the judge he didn’t think he needed his brother to testify afterall.
Plans for transporting him from Pontiac prison to Morrison were made at least a week in advance. Because of the nature of the crime and Sheley’s history, several armed guards from the Illinois DOC accompanied the inmate for the trip. The Sheriff staffed more guards, too. All for naught, he says.
”Thousands of dollars that the state doesn’t have, our county doesn’t have. It just upsets me terribly what’s going on here today. We’re all in financial struggles right now and it’s just a game being played as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know if I can blame anybody, I think the defendant’s are playing games, that’s what I think.”
Josh Sheley is on trial for concealment of a homicide, accused of helping his brother after the murder of 93-year old Russell Reed of Sterling.
Nick Sheley is accused of a 2008 summer killing spree when 8 people were murdered in two states. He’ll stand trial first in Knox County, and is facing the death penalty, if he’s convicted.