Nokomis man guilty on two felony charges

By Editor | March 29, 2017 |

A Nokomis man was convicted on two of three felony charges at the completion of a two-day jury trial in Fayette County Circuit Court.

Christopher L. Scholes was found guilty of home invasion and criminal trespass to a residence after the trial ended with closing arguments early Tuesday afternoon.
Home invasion is a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000, and criminal trespass to a residence is a Class 4 felony carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.
Scholes, 32, was also found not guilty of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
He was charged with the three felonies, and with a misdemeanor charge of endangering the life or health of a child, following an incident at a Ramsey residence on May 15 of last year. The misdemeanor charge was dismissed on Monday at the request of State’s Attorney Joshua Morrison.
On the home invasion charge, it was alleged that Scholes entered a Ramsey resident, "threatened the imminent use of force" upon the residents and struck one of the residents in the face with a closed fist.
The aggravated battery charge alleged that Scholes struck one of the residents in the face with a closed fist, causing facial lacerations, with the victim seeking emergency care.
The criminal trespass charge alleged that Scholes illegally entered the Ramsey residence.
The misdemeanor charge that was dismissed on Monday alleged that Scholes left a 4-year-old child on the porch while he entered the residence.
A sentencing hearing for Scholes has been set for May 19.