Executive Summary
- Kentrell Joiner, 18, sentenced to 3.5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
- Defendant pleaded guilty to unlawful use of weapons in September.
- Case was transferred from juvenile jurisdiction to adult felony court in April.
PEORIA, Ill. – Kentrell Joiner, 18, has been sentenced to three and a half years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to unlawful use of weapons, according to court records filed in Peoria County. The sentencing was handed down following a judicial process that saw the defendant transferred from the juvenile system to adult criminal court.
Joiner entered a guilty plea in September, resolving charges that originated when he was 17 years old. Authorities initially charged him as a juvenile in January, citing a history of alleged illegal activity involving firearms. Details regarding the specific circumstances of the arrest were documented in police filings at the time of the incident.
In April, a Peoria County judge granted a motion to transfer the case to adult felony court. This procedural move allows prosecutors to seek penalties consistent with adult sentencing guidelines rather than the rehabilitative focus typically found in the juvenile justice system. Joiner will serve his sentence under the custody of state corrections officials.
Judicial Implications
The sentencing of Joiner highlights the legal mechanisms available to the Illinois judiciary when addressing serious offenses involving minors. Transfers to adult court are generally reserved for cases where the severity of the charge or the defendant’s prior history warrants a departure from juvenile adjudication. While Joiner has entered a plea of guilty in this specific case, it is important to note that within the United States justice system, all individuals are formally presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
