BATCHTOWN MAN FACES NEW FELONY DRUG CHARGE FOLLOWING FIREARMS INVESTIGATION

BATCHTOWN, IL — A Batchtown man is facing an additional felony drug charge following a Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office investigation that began with a reported domestic disturbance involving a firearm.

The Sheriff’s Office says deputies received the initial report June 11 concerning an incident alleged to have occurred the previous day at a residence in Batchtown.

Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Nicholas McCall interviewed victims and witnesses during the investigation and obtained a court-authorized search warrant from Judge Charles H.W. Burch.

On June 15, members of the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Illinois Conservation Police, executed the search warrant at residences in Calhoun County.

Authorities say firearms, ammunition and suspected drug paraphernalia were recovered during the search. The suspected paraphernalia was submitted to the Illinois State Police Forensic Laboratory for analysis.

Billy B. Leavell, 53, of Batchtown, was arrested at the scene and transported to the Jersey County Jail.

On June 16, the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office filed charges accusing Leavell of aggravated assault involving use of a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card.

Leavell was later granted pretrial release subject to GPS monitoring while the case remained pending.

The investigation later resulted in an additional charge. On August 11, the Calhoun County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a felony complaint charging Leavell with possession of a controlled substance.

The Sheriff’s Office says the additional charge followed analysis of the suspected drug paraphernalia recovered during the June search.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Illinois State Police for assistance with laboratory testing and Illinois Conservation Police for assisting in execution of the search warrant.

Leavell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.