A Kewanee man learned where his immediate future was leading at his sentencing hearing on July 1, 2024. Tyler Westefer will turn 22 years old in prison this month. Westefer accepted a partially negotiated plea deal on May 6th. Friends and family, many of whom testified on Tyler’s behalf, attended the sentencing hearing to support Westefer. Judge Colby Hathaway told Wetefer he had a lot of people in the courtroom that were there for him and that he had problems following the rules and laws. Judge Hathaway told Westefer he could do it if he worked hard enough at it.
Judge Colby Hathaway sentenced Tyler Westefer to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), followed by Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR), fines, and assessments. The following is a list of sentences handed down by case and charge:
2022CF238 – Count 2: Mob Action – 3 years in IDOC, followed by 6 months of MSR, and fines
2022CF315 – Count 2: Possession of Cannabis 100<500 Grams and Count 3: Aggravated Unlawful Use of A Weapon – concurrent terms of 3 years in IDOC, followed by 6 months of MSR, and fines
2022CF337 – Count 3: Reckless Discharge of a Firearm and Count 4: Aggravated Possession of Stolen Firearms – Count 3 sentenced to 3 years IDOC, followed by 6 months MSR, and Count 4 sentenced to 15 years in IDOC, followed by 1 year of MSR. Plus fines and assessments.
2023CF284 – Count 1: Threaten a Public Official – 5 years in IDOC, followed by 6 months of MSR, and fines
All sentences are concurrent with each other. Westefer received credit for 291 days served in the Henry County Jail.
On November 9, 2022, Kewanee Police were attempting to locate Tyler Westefer on a warrant for failing to appear at a preliminary hearing. Police witnessed Westefer in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The vehicle fled from police and ultimately came to rest by Black Hawk College in rural Galva. Westefer pleaded guilty to counts two and three, Possession with Intent to Deliver Cannabis 100–500 Grams (Class 3 Felony), and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony).
Westefer is charged with the November 5, 2022, drive-by shooting of a residence in the 500 block of Park Avenue and a South Park Street residence struck by a stray bullet. He pleaded guilty to count 3 and added count 4, Reckless Discharge of a Firearm (Class 4 Felony), and Aggravated Possession of Stolen Firearms (Class 1 Felony).
Westefer is charged with threatening a member of jail staff while he was in the custody of the Henry County Jail. Westefer pleaded guilty to threatening a public official (Class 3 Felony).
Tyler Westefer was originally charged with Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm by a School (Class X Felony), Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm/Occupied Building (Class 1 Felony), Reckless Discharge of a Firearm (Class 4 Felony), Aggravated Possession of Stolen Firearms (Class 1 Felony), and for Case number 2022CF337. Westefer is charged with Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felony), Obstructing Justice (Class 4 Felony), Possession of Cannabis 100-500 Grams (Class 4 Felony), and Possession with Intent to Deliver Cannabis 100-500 Grams (Class 3 Felony) for Case number 2022CF315. Westefer is charged with Criminal Trespass with Persons Present and Mob Action (Class 4 Felonies) in Case number 2022CF238. Westefer is charged with Threaten a Public Official (Class 3 Felony).