Location

1001 Walnut Street
Murpshyboro, IL

Office Hours

Mon – Fri 8:00 – 4:00
Closed Sat & Sun

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618-687-7200

MURPHYSBORO — Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph A. Cervantez announced today that felony charges of Aggravated Possession of Stolen Firearms have been filed against Dakota R. A. Rushing, age 24, of Zeigler, Illinois.

The charges arise from an incident that occurred in Zeigler, Illinois, and continued into Carbondale, Illinois, on March 24, 2022. Cervantez explained that the quick work and detailed investigation by the Zeigler Police Department and assisting agencies helped him continue to be aggressive in continuing to remove stolen firearms from the streets of Jackson County. “This is not the county to unlawfully possess a firearm.” Cervantez said.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Rushing is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail on associated charges, a warrant for his arrest for the Jackson County charges has been issued with a bond set in the amount of $150,000.

State’s Attorney Cervantez emphasizes that “charges are not evidence of guilt, and that defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which his office has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The following departments aided the Zeigler Police Department in the case: Franklin County State’s Attorney Abby Dinn, Sesser Police Department, Christopher Police Department, Illinois State Police Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, Illinois State Police District 13, Illinois State Police SWAT, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency, Zeigler Fire Department, Zeigler Street Department, and Central Dispatch of West Franklin County.

MURPHYSBORO MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

MURPHYSBORO MAN SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Joseph A. Cervantez, Jackson County State’s Attorney, announced today that Commodore D. Jackson, 42, of Murphysboro, was sentenced to 17 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Jackson was found guilty in 2022 of Aggravated Battery with Use of a Deadly Weapon.

On March 4, 2022, the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office presented evidence that on Friday, November 5, 2021, at around 1:25 A.M., Carbondale Police Officers responded to 511 S. Illinois Avenue, Hanger 9, in Carbondale, regarding a stabbing. Jackson had stabbed the victim four times in the parking lot, following a verbal altercation inside the bar. The survivor was able to make his way back toward the front of Hanger 9 where emergency help was called. The Carbondale Police Department conducted the investigation, and the Murphysboro Police Department located and apprehended Jackson where he was transported to the Jackson County Jail on November 5, 2021.

A sentencing hearing was held on December 15, 2023, where arguments were made by Jackson County Assistant State’s Attorney Sophia M. Allen, as to sentencing recommendations. The court ultimately sentenced Jackson to a total of 17 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The investigation was led by the Carbondale Police Department and assisted by the Murphysboro Police Department and the Illinois State Police.

jackson county state's attorney

1001 Walnut Street
Murphysboro, IL 62966

618-687-7200

Hours of Operation

8am - 4pm
Monday through Friday
Closed on all Federal
and State holidays.

Jackson County State's Attorney's Office