A Galesburg man faces a trio of felonies, including drug and weapons charges, after his arrest early this morning.
24-year-old Jakob D. Hopkins of Galesburg made a video appearance in Knox County Circuit Court this afternoon where bail was set at $20,000 and the public defender’s office was appointed to represent his case.
Hopkins appeared before Judge Patricia A. Walton. She informed him that the most severe of his charges was a Class Two felony of Armed Violence. If convicted, it carries a three to seven-year sentence in the Department of Corrections. However, Hopkins is extended term eligible. So a conviction would see a doubled sentence.
Additional charges include a Class Three Possession of Methamphetamine and a Class Four Felon in Possession of a Weapon.
According to a Galesburg Police report, officers on patrol observed a man wearing a bandana riding a bicycle commit a handful of traffic offenses. That man was identified as Hopkins following a traffic stop.
While speaking with Hopkins, officers observed a bulge in the front pocket of a sweatshirt he was wearing. Without prompting, Hopkins allegedly told police he was carrying a knife on him. The knife was retrieved by police and described as “a large, fixed blade knife in a sheath with a metal knuckle guard around the handle of the knife.” Reports indicate that the knife blade was approximately six inches.
The police report indicates that Hopkins told police he was a felon. Officers confirmed that Hopkins had two previous convictions for “burglary.” Due to the length of the knife, officers detained Hopkins and arrested him. Officers conducted a search, “which included his jean pockets, socks, jacket pockets, and ball cap,” to which officers found no contraband.
He was taken to the Knox County Jail and processed. There, the report indicates that officers allegedly found a baggie containing 3.7 grams of what would field test positive for methamphetamine concealed in the bandana that Hopkins was wearing.
Judge Walton set a preliminary hearing for January 28th at 2:00 p.m. It was noted during the detention hearing that Hopkins has a case pending in Knox County on a charge of meth possession. A jury trial date was scheduled in that case for January 22nd.
