A Shelbyville man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of armed violence. 39-year-old James C. Anderson of Shelbyville, Illinois plead guilty on Wednesday.  According to Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke, Anderson will serve the maximum 30-year sentence for the armed violence charge, which involved the possession of more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, and will serve a concurrent 12-year sentence for an armed habitual criminal charge, an offense that requires 85% of the sentence to be served with no day-for-day good time credit. 

The incident occurred on August 29th, when Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop Anderson’s vehicle after observing him driving and knowing that Anderson’s driving privileges were revoked. Anderson turned northbound onto 800 East Road and then accelerated westbound onto 1300 North Road when a sheriff’s deputy activated his lights and siren.  During the pursuit, the vehicle spun out and drove at the Deputy who was pursuing him.  Anderson then drove back onto Route 16 traveling northbound at a speed of nearly 80 mph.  At one point leaving the roadway at one point with the vehicle on two leaves. Anderson would then lose control of the vehicle striking a fence and a building in the area of Olive and Vine Street.

Anderson, along with a second male and a female fled on foot with Deputy David Myers and Canine Hektor pursuing. Anderson ran to an area of tall weeds and was taken to the ground by a canine. Police searched Anderson’s vehicle and found two loaded pistols; one stolen 9mm and a 40 caliber pistol with 14 rounds in the magazine. Deputies also located and seized 182.6 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle. 

Anderson had previously served an 8-year prison sentence for an unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon charge, and a 9-year prison sentence in 2009 for the offense of burglary.  Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke commended the work of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office thanking them for removing a dangerous criminal from the community.