Jason Lewton Wgem

Nov 9, 2024 | whig.com | Jason Lewton |Jason Lewton Wgem

PITTSFIELD, Ill. —  It took 4 hours, 32 minutes Friday afternoon for the jury in the sexual assault trial for Austin L. Rodhouse, of Pleasant Hill, to find him guilty on all 19 counts he faced. Rodhouse sat motionless next to defense attorney Casey Schnack as Circuit Clerk Brice Gleckler read the verdict. Schnack said after the proceedings in Pike County Circuit Court the case would stay with her for a while. “The people got their guilty verdict, but justice wasn’t done today,” she said.

Nov 8, 2024 | whig.com | Jason Lewton |Jason Lewton Wgem

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The jury in the sexual assault trial for a Pleasant Hill man should get the case Friday morning after prosecutors rested their case Thursday. Pike County Assistant State’s Attorney Leecia Carnes told Judge Charles Burch just before noon that she had no further witnesses to call after four people testified. Defense attorney Casey Schnack said she would not present any evidence, and Burch excused the jurors for the day after dismissing a motion for a directed verdict from Schnack.

Nov 7, 2024 | whig.com | Jason Lewton |Jason Lewton Wgem

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — “I know my daughter.”The father of an alleged victim in the sexual assault trial of Austin Rodhouse told jurors that is how he knew someone else was writing the messages he was receiving from her phone. It was part of Pike County State‘s Attorney Walker Filbert’s questioning of Tony C., who said that as his daughter’s relationship with Rodhouse progressed, communication with her became far less frequent. Tony said visits with their daughter’s family were infrequent.