Blackledge trial also delayed until February

QUINCY (WGEM) - The trial for a woman accused in the carjacking, home invasion and sexual assault of a 70-year-old Adams County woman has been pushed back a month after the reported victim died in recent days.

Judge Robert Adrian approved a prosecution motion Wednesday to move the trial of Karen Blackledge to the February jury trial docket. The motion came after Assistant State’s Attorney Joshua Jones told the court Tuesday at a hearing for the other defendant in the case -- Bradley Yohn -- that the woman at the center of the case had died.

Blackledge’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Christopher Pratt, did not object to the move.

Blackledge has pleaded not guilty to two counts of home invasion, one count of aggravated kidnapping, one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, all Class X felonies, and residential burglary, a Class 1 felony.

Those charges are in connection with a Nov. 9 incident that allegedly began along the North Bottom Road.

Yohn has pleaded guilty to identical charges in the case.

He also faces felony charges in two other cases. He was charged with vehicular hijacking, a Class 1 felony, stemming from an Oct. 31 incident, and he faces charges of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony; two counts of theft or unauthorized control of property over $500 but under $10,000, Class 3 felonies; and criminal sexual abuse, a Class 4 felony. Those charges stem from an Oct. 14 incident.

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