Belleville man is first of 3 suspects convicted and sentenced in Washington County murder
The first of three suspects charged in connection with the 2023 shooting death of a man in Washington County has been tried, convicted and now sentenced.
Kevin Loucks, 45, of Belleville, was sentenced on Tuesday by a Washington County judge to 40 years in an Illinois prison on a single charge of first-degree murder in the death of Montez Pearson, 44.
According to charging documents, Pearson was shot in the head with a shotgun. His body was found on July 19 west of Nashville in the area of Lunte Creek Road, according to Illinois State Police.
Loucks was arrested July 23 after a search warrant was executed at his residence in Belleville. Two others – Milton Robinson, 58, also of Belleville, and Arrion Sanders –were arrested a short time later.
Sanders, 46, is scheduled for trial on April 2. According to Washington County court records, Sanders has filed an affirmative defense, meaning he admits his involvement in Pearson’s death, but will present evidence in a trial intended to legally justify his actions.
Robinson last week was declared unfit to stand trial, with no objection from county prosecutors.
His attorney, Paige Clark Strawn raised concern about Robinson’s fitness for trial in February, “based on her conversations with him and his demeanor,” according to court records. Robinson has since been turned over to custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Robinson will be reassessed in June and, with medication and treatment, Strawn said, be able to stand trial in about a year.
Illinois State Police were assisted during the investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Belleville Police Department, and the case was prosecuted by Washington County State’s Attorney Daniel Janowski.
