* Background is here if you need it. I’ve talked to a Black legislator this week who said he isn’t using his legislative plates in Springfield because of this case. I can’t say I blame him…
A New Berlin man pleaded not guilty yesterday to criminal charges that allege he pointed a loaded handgun at a state senator to threaten the Chicago-based lawmaker as the two were driving cars March 15 in Springfield.
Michael L. Hoyle, 54, who is free after posting $15,000 bail the day after the alleged incident, entered the plea in front of Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin. A trial was scheduled for July.
Hoyle, the president and owner of Kwik-Wall Co. of Springfield, was arrested the night of the incident involving Sen. Elgie Sims Jr., D-Chicago. […]
In March, Sims told The State Journal-Register that he feared for his life when he was threatened by Hoyle, someone he didn’t know, as Sims drove alone from the Capitol Complex to his home on Springfield’s west side, where he lives during legislative sessions.
Sims, 50, has said he thinks the legislative license plates on his car may have played a role in sparking the apparent incident of road rage. But Springfield Police Deputy Chief Joshua Stuenkel said police haven’t found evidence to support that theory and were unaware of a motive behind Hoyle’s alleged behavior.
*** UPDATE *** Hoyle attempted to change his bond conditions during a hearing today. He wanted to be able to travel freely in the continental United States. Instead, he got limited travel privileges, a psych evaluation, was ordered to turn over his guns to the sheriff and can have no contact with Sen. Sims…
Cause comes on for hearing on Defendant’s Motion to Modify Conditions of Bond and the People’s Motion to Modify Conditions of Bond and the Court having reviewed the pleading and considered the arguments of counsel, ORDERS as follows:
A. Defendant is ordered to comply with all standard Conditions of Bond Release set forth on Exhibit A;
B. Defendant shall surrender all firearms and ammunition to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on or before April 26, 2021;
C. Defendant shall not possess firearms or ammunition; Defendant shall complete a psychiatric evaluation by a provider designated by Pretrial Services and comply with any treatment recommendations made by Pretrial Services;
D. Defendant shall have no contact with Elgie Sims or any of the following addresses [redacted by me]
E. Defendant is not permitted to leave the State of Illinois absent further order of the Court, with the following exceptions:
a. Defendant shall be permitted to travel to his residence in the State of Florida; and
b. Defendant is permitted to attend a military graduation ceremony for his son in the State of Kentucky and return to Springfield.
Several of Sen. Sims’ colleagues joined Sims at the hearing, including Senate President Harmon and Sens. Murphy, Gillespie, Villivalam, Feigenholtz, Villenuava, Peters, Aquino, Hunter, Johnson, Morrison, Bush, Fine, Belt and Simmons, among others. It was a nice touch.
- Shield - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:17 am:
==But Springfield Police Deputy Chief Joshua Stuenkel said police haven’t found evidence to support that theory and were unaware of a motive behind Hoyle’s alleged behavior.==
The old shrug your shoulders investigation technique. Foolproof.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:18 am:
Shield, agree. Confidence-inspiring stuff right there.
- allknowingmasterofraccoodom - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:24 am:
What the heck. What else can it be? Pure racism?
- Moe Berg - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:25 am:
This 2018 Sangamon County Clerk document gives some insight into Mike Hoyle and a dispute he had with his neighbor:
https://www.sangamoncountyclerk.com/County-Board/documents/May82018_000.pdf
Starts on Page 4, Resolution 5.
“He thinks he can bully her into selling by making her uncomfortable. He has a surveillance camera pointing at her back door and bedroom window. Someone cut two holes in her chain link fence so her dogs can get out, along with air horns being blown at 1:00 a.m., fireworks, and loud blowing music. If he is given the easement then it will be like saying it is okay to do this to your neighbors.”
There’s more in the doc. Despite his bad behavior, the County Board by a 15-12 vote decided to give Hoyle the variance he wanted.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:35 am:
An old white man brandishes as loaded pistol at a State Representative. State Representative believes it was because of his legislative plates, the police haven’t found evidence to support that theory. For starters, it’s not like there’s physical evidence to support that motive.
The weapons violations are a slam dunk in this case. If the prosecutor really wants to push this issue, add hate crime charge for an old white man brandishing a pistol at a black man and lets see what the old white man comes up with to create some reasonable doubt for their hate crime charge.
===Wright said in the documents that Hoyle maintains dual residency in Illinois and Florida. Wright also said Hoyle doesn’t have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or a Concealed Carry License, both of which were revoked in 2017. ===
To make things clear here, this person appears to have been illegally carrying the firearm when he illegally used it. Prison is the best option for this guy whose attorney has the gall to claim has no criminal history, but appears to have been violating the law for several years.
===maintains dual residency===
Someone really should audit this felon. If he’s refusing to follow our firearms regulations I bet he’s also committing tax fraud.
IDOR should be embarrassed at the number of tax crimes that have been identified by the federal government for people who had already been on IDOR’s radar for tax issues. Here’s a chance to take a gander at how this guy’s Illinois based business is committing tax fraud with him pretending to earn income in Florida.
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:41 am:
Shield +1
Has SPD taken temporary possession of Doyle’s firearms ?
He’s out of jail on bail on weapons charges and there is a sworn statement (aka evidence) that he threatened a stranger with the weapon.
Has SPD contacted Senator Sims (all the victim) to confirm they have taken temporary possession of Doyle’s firearms ?
- Scott Cross for President - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:44 am:
Shield +1
Has SPD taken temporary possession of Doyle’s firearms ?
He’s out of jail on bail on weapons charges and there is a sworn statement (aka evidence) that he threatened a stranger with the weapon.
Has SPD contacted Senator Sims (all the victim) to confirm they have taken temporary possession of Doyle’s firearms ?
- Nadigam - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:49 am:
Seems like quite a bit of upstanding individuals have firearms and don’t have FOID or CCL licenses. I like that the prosecutor is throwing everything at this guy.
- wildcat12 - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:49 am:
Ah, yes. Very comforting that the man wasn’t targeting Senator Sims but was simply randomly pulling a firearm on a stranger in traffic. Surely he should be free in the community.
- Linus - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:50 am:
” Hoyle doesn’t have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card or a Concealed Carry License, both of which were revoked in 2017. ”
Probably another one of those solid law-and-order types. Right?
- Pundent - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 9:55 am:
Well it’s possible that the legislative plates didn’t have anything to do with this and the guy is just a run of the mill violent racist.
- H-W - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:11 am:
=But Springfield Police Deputy Chief Joshua Stuenkel said police haven’t found evidence to support that theory and were unaware of a motive behind Hoyle’s alleged behavior.=
Let’s see. Road rage for some reason. Gun pointed at driver for some reason. Driver is a Black man. Drive is a State Legislator with with the associated license plate.
So should we assume it had nothing to do with skin tone either?
- Feldy - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:13 am:
Hoyle should be fully prosecuted. Driving around town, waving a gun around, driving erratically, threatening people. What a piece of work. Send a message about this outrageous behavior, from a 54 year old adult.
- Jocko - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:16 am:
==police haven’t found evidence to support that theory and were unaware of a motive==
I wasn’t aware that defunding the police meant them abandoning common sense.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:32 am:
===So should we assume it had nothing to do with skin tone either? ===
Why not both?
===meant them abandoning common sense===
Maybe it’s intentional. The last year has demonstrated that as a group police officers and other LEOs are not really the best at applying real politic. Like “journalists are saying bad things about us, lets target the journalists covering protests” hasn’t turned out quite like they wanted it to.
- Donnie Elgin - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:46 am:
=Hoyle should be fully prosecuted.=
Seem like they are …”Hoyle has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the incident. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of one to three years in prison.
- BigLou - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:52 am:
Doesn’t just about everyone plead not guilty even if caught red-handed. No surprise.
- thisjustinagain - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:54 am:
Really, Linus, that’s the best you can do is “Probably another one of those solid law-and-order types. Right? ” Obviously not, since his FOID and CCL were both revoked. Lumping the law-abiding in with idiots like the offender is yet another false narrative to justify more restrictions on the law-abiding (oh, by the way, those restrictions didn’t stop the offender…..Right??).
- Anon y mouse - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:56 am:
And this guy is out on bail?!?!
- Third Reading - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 10:59 am:
I can see why Chief Winslow was police chief of the year in Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 11:01 am:
=== who said he isn’t using his legislative plates in Springfield because of this case. I can’t say I blame him…===
Targeting legislators is despicable, the lack of fact finding it as described “shoulder shrugging” is disheartening
- Linus - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 11:20 am:
- thisjustinagain -
There’s this thing called “sarcasm.” Look it up. And have a great weekend.
- Levois J - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 11:57 am:
I don’t blame that Black legislator either. We’re living in scary times right now.
- Simply Sayin' - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 12:13 pm:
/s: I totally agree with all the comments slamming the Chief’s statement that no evidence about the legislative plate theory has been found, which concerns the defendant’s mental thoughts (aka motive)…since the Chief didn’t specifically mention that he has looked into the defendant’s Facebook posts (which would obviously say, “I saw a legislative plate and started chasing the guy with my gun”), he obviously hasn’t looked into this and is just shrugging off the investigation.
Not /s: The Chief just stated the fact that there has been no evidence found of this reasonable theory. It doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for why or they are neglecting the investigation.
- Blue Dog - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 2:27 pm:
Your typical gun felony sentence. I month in jail and 3 yrs probation.
Commit a felony with a gun. 25 years no parole.
- Rich Hill - Friday, Apr 23, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
The enemy within.