Urbana man sentenced to 26 years in drug case Thu, 12/30/2010 - 7:00am | The News-Gazette URBANA – An Urbana man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison in connection with a drug offense. On Tuesday Judge Heidi Ladd sentenced Antoine, 36, who listed an address in the 100 block of Scottswood Drive, Urbana, to 26 years in prison. Antoine will receive credit for 76 days he has already served. A jury convicted Antoine in November of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, for having almost 2 ounces of cocaine intended to sale in his home earlier this year. Narcotics officers from the Champaign police department testified during the trial that they had been investigating Antoine and got a search warrant, which they served on Jan. 29, for the Scottswood Drive home. Police officer Matt Henson said he and several other officers searched the small one-story house and found a total of 55 grams of cocaine, in both powder and crack form, a 9 mm handgun, an assault rifle, ammunition for it, about $5,500 cash and plastic bags typically used in the packaging of cocaine. Officer Jaceson Yandell testified that in the cash was about $700 in bills that had been marked by police and given to informants to buy drugs. Officer Jack Turner testified that Antoine admitted to him that the drugs were his and that he made his living selling them. Champaign County Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Carlson said Champaign and Urbana police often work together on narcotics investigations, especially when the illegal activity takes place in both cities. Carlson said Urbana police were aware of the work by Champaign police in connection with the case. Antoine’s last felony conviction was in 1994 which was over 16 years ago which he completed his probation successfully, and his last misdemeanor was in 2001which in 2003 he was unsuccessfully discharged from probation. Antoine has never been to prison or spent a long time in jail. He is a father of 5 which whom he was providing for through his employment of his cleaning business which he is the owner, and with the help of his wife through her clothing business. Antoine has two children who suffer from a mental disability which has not yet been diagnosed but this long length of time away from his children will not make things any better for them. With that being said we the people of Champaign County would like to ask for a lesser sentence to Antoine after reading the article and seeing some of his background he is not a monster or it isn’t like he committed a murder or raped someone we do find this sentencing to be a bit harsh. Please take our signatures into consideration as we are speaking out on his behalf. Thank You

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