A Pana man has been sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated fleeing to elude a police officer, and driving while license revoked with a prior conviction.  31 year old John P. Brilley of Pana was sentenced on Monday to a total of five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the different offenses.  Fleeing to elude a police officer is a class 4 felony with an extended sentencing range of 1-6 years in prison and two counts of driving while license revoked with a prior conviction is a class 4 felony with an extended sentencing range of 1-6 years in prison.  

According to Shelby County State’s Attorney Nichole Kroncke, Brilley was arrested on December 30th, 2021 when Deputy Brennon Atkinson attempted to stop a vehicle near Route 16 and 128 for suspicious activity. The officer followed the vehicle and when Deputy Atkinson tried to perform a license plate check, the vehicle took off.  Speeds hit 80 miles per hour and the driver ended up losing control and crashing into a ditch at 1600 E and 1200 N roads and continued driving for at least another 50 feet.  The driver, who was later identified as Brilley, fled on foot running into a wooded area.  Deputy Atkinson issued a warning and then tasered Brilley to stop him from fleeing and arrested him. 

Deputy Atkinson learned that Brilley’s driver’s license had been revoked as a result of previous DUI convictions. He had been arrested nine days earlier by Officer Joe Houk of the Shelbyville Police Department.  Brilley has prior felony convictions in Shelby, Macon, and Christian Counties for the offenses of theft, aggravated DUI, and possession of methamphetamine precursor.  This will be Brilley’s third prison sentence.