Judge Terry Patton said he needs to see the results from the Psychological Evaluations before he can give a recommendation on sentencing for the Geneso man charged with video recording a minor in public. John A. DeBord, 19, of Geneseo was scheduled to accept a plea deal on February 14th but negotiations fell through and a 402 Conference was scheduled for April 27, 2023. DeBord is on probation from a juvenile conviction and has been recommended to obtain Psychological and Drug Evaluations. DeBord is charged with Video in Public where the victim is a Minor, a Class 3 Felony. The incident alleges that Mr. Debord placed his cell phone in the female changing/locker room when he worked as a lifeguard at the Community Center, with the phone in record mode at the time. A juvenile discovered the phone as she was about to change her clothes. She stopped the phone from recording, changed her clothes and alerted Community Center Staff. The Police identified DeBord as the owner of the phone and he was officially charged. The State said a Felony conviction will “impress on him the severity of the charges”. The State recommended 24 month probation, sex offender evaluation, psychological evaluation, Psycho-Sexual evaluation and drug evaluation. The State also indicated they would revoke probation from his juvenile case.
Attorney Breedlove said it is important to note that the defendant is only 20 years old and his brain hasn’t fully developed yet. Experts believe the brain is fully developed at 25 years of age. Mr. Breelove said that his client has “impulse issues” and that Mr. DeBord recognizes this . Attorney Breedlove said he understands State’s Attorney Runty’s concerns for the safety of the public and that “I don’t disagree”. Attorney Breedlove said the registries won’t help the defendant or the public. Attorney Breedlove recommends extending the juvenile probation until Mr. DeBord is 21 years of age and add extra conditions to the probation, such as no recording devices in his possession. DeBord was pursuing a teaching degree but has changed his study to music. Attorney Breedlove said “felonizing him will not protect the community”.
Judge Terry Patton said it is the State’s job to protect the public. Judge Patton said this is not “vandalism or joy riding”, this is a serious offense. Judge Patton continues that the defendant is young and Science says that people’s brains don’t develop until the mid 20’s to make good decisions. A Felony conviction will prohibit Mr. DeBord from teaching of any kind. Judge Patton said there are options to accept for a plea if the State dismissed the Felony but that he wouldn’t accept any offer that allows the defendant to interact with children while “we wait and see if he grows out of this”. Judge Patton said it would be hard to function without a cell phone but he could submit to random phone checks in regards to Attorney Breedlove’s possible recommendation that Mr. DeBord not be allowed recording devices. Judge Patton ultimately said he could not make a sentencing recommendation until he sees the results of Psychological evaluations. A Jury Pre-Trial is scheduled for June 15, 2023, at 1 PM. Read more here.
**By law, juvenile convictions are sealed and not a matter of public record**
