BREAKING: John C. Curtis Jr sentenced to 15 years DOC for killing Toby Jump
John C. Curtis, Jr. on the night of April 4, 2009
HARRISBURG–Sentencing was held today for the man who killed Niantic resident Toby Jump in April 2009, and it was by turns disappointing and relieving.
John C. Curtis Jr. was convicted by a Saline County jury on November 1, 2010, of Involuntary Manslaughter in the shooting of Jump after a two-week trial and a lot of confusion over what exactly involuntary manslaughter really is…not only on the part of the jury, but of the judge in the case as well, Walden Morris.
Initially charged with First-Degree Murder, Curtis, aided by his Granite City attorney Morgan Scroggins, muddied the waters enough to confuse the issue and prompt the judge to allow involuntary manslaughter as a choice for conviction, even though in April 09 Curtis left the scene of a verbal altercation with Jump and others, went to his house, retrieved a shotgun, loaded it, and fired directly at Jump. One of the pellets struck Jump in the eye, lodging in his brain and killing him. Curtis claimed it was an accident and he was acting as a response to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, having been in battles in Iraq just a couple of years before. Foremost, however, he claimed the shooting was “an accident.”
It so happens that under the statute, Involuntary Manslaughter cannot take “an accident” into consideration when applying it to a conviction. Nevertheless, this is what happened, and Curtis got off the murder charge.
Saline County State’s Attorney Mike Henshaw therefore brought in Curtis’ other criminal activity in the years before and after the killing, including a 2007 Aggravated DUI and a 2010 Battery, wherein Curtis was involved in a jailhouse beating at Saline County Detention Center, where he’s been held since his early April 2009 arrest. By applying these to the sentencing, Henshaw asked for a total of 18 years.
Morris took his time deciding, upon hearing victim impact statements from the Jump family, as well as yet another tearful statement from Curtis, who again called the shooting “an accident,” contrary to what statutes set forth about his conviction.
Ultimately, Morris determined to sentence Curtis to 15 years: 10 for being a felon in possession of a weapon (at the time of the shooting) and five for involuntary manslaughter. A sentence of 3 years for the Aggravated DUI, which had been languishing in the court system at the time of the shooting, was also issued, although it’s to be served concurrent with the other two, which are consecutive.
Henshaw and the Jump family expressed their disappointment with the verdict, stating they had never agreed with the verdict and had never liked it, and noting they would have been happier over the matter as it concluded if Curtis had been sentenced to the full 18 as requested.
With truth-in-sentencing and time served (more than two years), Curtis will only spend a scant five years four months in DOC over killing Toby Jump, who was a beloved husband, father and brother and only in Harrisburg over that fateful weekend to celebrate family birthdays, including his own.
Short URL: http://www.disclosurenewsonline.com/?p=7664
Posted by Jack Howser
on Apr 28 2011. Filed under Saline.
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He only got 15 years in DOC, but he was long ago sentenced to a lifetime term of being a white-trash POS.
This is bull shit! Curtis should have got a lot more. He has been a trouble maker most of his life. Judge Morris , I would be afraid that some of my family might be his next victum.
That’s not a good thing.he got off with a slap on the hand.Other people do less than that and get more time.something just does’t jive.it’s the system and the Judges.the Judges gets to sentence,not the jury.That is one example why people takes matters in their own hands.So sad.I don’t know either people.I’ve heard of Curtis though.it’s just a sad situation from what i know about it.
…while I’m in agreement that justice should be blind, I still struggle when it shows itself deaf and dumb to boot…
…while I’m in agreement that justice should be blind, I still struggle when it shows itself deaf and dumb to boot…
This is pretty disgusting.
The comment changes are no good for me.
As is the fact that I can’t see Disclosure from work computer any more
This is disgusting. As is the fact that I can’t see Disclosure from work computer since the change to mandatory passwords.
I , like so so many have said, if you want to get away with murder do it in Saline County…
I hear Mike H was Pissed…And I didnt think IL. had Manslaughter of any kind in the books after they updated from Chapter 38 to Chaptter 720, but again we are in the southern part of IL. an most TRUE laws are set aside. Just like the Sheila Beasley case where she killed her husband Glen while he was asleep. Now Judge Bruce Stewert, got her off with a slap on the hand using Battered Wife Syndrom. Which ISNT in the law books, since Chapter 720 was put into effect
This just isnt right,,,,
I , like so so many have said, if you want to get away with murder do it in Saline County…
I hear Mike H was Pissed…And I didnt think IL. had Manslaughter of any kind in the books after they updated from Chapter 38 to Chaptter 720, but again we are in the southern part of IL. an most TRUE laws are set aside. Just like the Sheila Beasley case where she killed her husband Glen while he was asleep. Now Judge Bruce Stewert, got her off with a slap on the hand using Battered Wife Syndrom. Which ISNT in the law books, since Chapter 720 was put into effect
This just isnt right,,,,
@errata Always got to play then RACE Card dont you,,,, Give us a break,
Your post at times make me sick, This man will do almost 14 years now after serving our country, and you have NO idea what he HAD to do over there. Believe me, he will suffer alot more than you will ever know,,,
Just read my other post and do some thinking before you start typing again… POS
You make me sick,what is wrong with you??? He served our country maybe so,But that dont give him the right to kill,when he comes back know matter what!!!He will not do 14 years,he will do 9!!!goodtime if it comes back,he could be out in 7 may-be less!!!So thats not 14!!!!!!!!!!!!
You make me sick,what is wrong with you??? He served our country maybe so,But that dont give him the right to kill,when he comes back know matter what!!!He will not do 14 years,he will do 9!!!goodtime if it comes back,he could be out in 7 may-be less!!!So thats not 14!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read my post, UR wrong, he gets out sooner that that…. Sorry PPL
Serving in the military doesn’t give anyone license to get drunk and shoot someone to death with no repercussions.
I read your other post and the only thing it makes me think is that you’re not very bright. And the race card? Gimme a fucking break.
Serving in the military doesn’t give anyone license to get drunk and shoot someone to death with no repercussions.
I read your other post and the only thing it makes me think is that you’re not very bright. And the race card? Gimme a fucking break.
@Elwood60:disqus btw.
Read my post, sorry PPL
Read my post, sorry PPL
@Elwood60:disqus btw.
I mean @Elwood60:disqus
Still don’t quite have the hang of this Disqus thing, but unlike a certain poster (cough…Elwood…cough) I can write a coherent sentence, at least.
Holy Shit, I just looked him up and His Parole date is 10-4-16, Hey I sorry PPL I was under the impression he got 15 years, and it was concidered a aggervated charge which would made him do 85%, NOT 50% with good time… Morris is right though, he will kill again … Sorry PPl, I do stand by the fact if you want to get away with murder do it in Saline County… This is Proof
What a freaking miscarry of justice…. Damn ???
Holy Shit, I just looked him up and His Parole date is 10-4-16, Hey I sorry PPL I was under the impression he got 15 years, and it was concidered a aggervated charge which would made him do 85%, NOT 50% with good time… Morris is right though, he will kill again … Sorry PPl, I do stand by the fact if you want to get away with murder do it in Saline County… This is Proof
What a freaking miscarry of justice…. Damn ???
Yepp 3 more years and you dont know him so dont say he will kill again. I know this man and he is one of the best men i know along with his dad
Fuck you. He’ll kill again. He got away with it once, he’ll do it again because stupid people don’t learn. You don’t like it, come tell me about it, moron.