WILLIAM JAYDON EMMONS
SALINE CO.— An Eldorado teen facing numerous felonies has been accepted to the Illinois Teen Challenge Program, also known as boot camp.
William Jaydon Emmons, 18, of 1110 Franklin St., Eldordao, was arrested January 3, 2016 and charged with Aggravated Possession of 31+ Stolen Firearms, Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Burglary.
Fast forward approximately nine months.
Emmons quickly became the focus of lawmen yet again as part of a burglary investigation.
On October 6 at Eldorado officer Joel Stanley spoke with Donald Eugene Stover, Jr., whose truck had been burglarized and cash taken.
Stover informed officers that his neighbor had video footage of the incident as did he.
Stover told officers he got Emmons to come to his house and engaged in small talk with him before asking him where he was on the night of October 6.
“I could see Jaydon’s hands shaking and he began stuttering and stated he was in bed at 10:30 p.m. that night,” Stover said.
And that’s about the time Stover walked the teen over to where his trail cam was pointed at his truck and informed him that he had video and pictures of him burglarizing the truck, as did the neighbor across the street.
In fact Stover even walked Jaydon Emmons to the neighbor’s house and showed him video showing he burglarized the truck.
“Jaydon immediately said, ‘It wasn’t me, it was someone I was with. I can get your money back,’” Stover said.
Emmons claimed the name of the other person involved in the burglary was Josh Peavler, but couldn’t tell Stover where Peavler lived or how to get in contact with him.
After Stover reminded Emmons several times that video only showed him burglarizing, the two got into what has been described as a physical confrontation and police were contacted.
Emmons is said to have admitted in front of an officer with his body cam recording that it was indeed him that was in on burglarizing the truck.
Officer Clint Hooper’s body cam allegedly shows Emmons saying he was in the passenger seat when Josh Peavler jumped in and took the money.
From all accounts, only Emmons is shown on video.
Emmons was taken into custody and charged with Burglary of Stover’s 1999 Ford Ranger pickup while it sat at 926 Dewey St., and Theft of some $270 in cash from the truck.
Emmons was released from police custody Oct. 7 after a $1,000 cash bond was posted on his behalf by Jada Emmons, of the same Franklin Street, Eldorado address.
On that same day a letter from Teen Challenge admissions coordinator Dawn Gallagher was sent to the court advising that a bed will be reserved for Emmons.
The intensive, military-style program requires a stay of at least one year.
There is no indication in the court file whether or not Emmons will be allowed to attend.