A Kewanee man has left his future in the hands of Judge Colby Hathaway after he pleaded guilty to six counts from the four pending cases against him. Tyler Westefer pleaded guilty to the six counts in an open plea on May 6th and will be sentenced by Judge Hathaway on July 1, 2024, at 3 PM. The remaining counts across the four cases will be dismissed per the plea agreement.
Westefer is charged with assaulting a juvenile in an apartment in Kewanee on July 29, 2022. Westefer pleaded guilty to Mob Action (Class 4 Felony).
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 is 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).