Illinois man sentenced in forgery case

A Sparta, Illinois, man charged with forgery and theft in Missouri has been sentenced after a plea deal.

Judge Benjamin Lewis in July placed John C. Jeffers, 37, on five years' probation with a suspended imposition of sentence on two counts of felony forgery, and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $35,827.07, court documents show. Jeffers also must maintain care with a mental-health provider and pay court costs.

Jeffers had entered a guilty plea on the two forgery counts. Another 15 counts against him were dismissed, including a felony theft charge.

Jeffers, who worked near Perryville, Missouri, had been accused of forging several checks from his employer's business checking account and not making proper business-tax payments. Several payments to credit-card companies and Jeffers' cellphone and mortgage providers were shown to have been paid from the business' account, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case.

Jeffers' case ended up in Cape Girardeau County as a result of a change of venue from Perry County, Missouri, in February.

Pertinent address:

Sparta, IL