News

IL Supreme Court: Grayson conviction means pre-trial release ‘moot’

Photo: Sangamon County


Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois Supreme Court says it no longer matters that Sean Grayson wanted out of jail prior to his trial last month.

A ruling filed Thursday indicates Grayson’s appeal of his pretrial detention is now “moot” — given that Grayson was convicted last month of Second Degree Murder charges in the death last year of Sonya Massey while he was on duty as a Sangamon County Sheriffs Deputy.

The state’s high court wrote that “when an appeal is rendered moot and we do not reach the merits of the appeal, we cannot speak to the correctness of the judgments rendered by the circuit and appellate courts.”

Sangamon County prosecutors had charged Grayson with First Degree Murder, but a judge gave jurors the Second Degree Murder option.

Grayson is jailed until his sentencing on January 29th.

Massey family members have said the conviction is either only partial justice, or no justice at all.

Recent Headlines

10 hours ago in Entertainment

Romanian court sentences US rapper Wiz Khalifa to 9 months for drug possession

American rapper Wiz Khalifa was sentenced by a court in Romania on Thursday to nine months in jail for drug possession, more than a year after he took part in a music festival in the Eastern European country.

10 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Tennessee governor pardons country star Jelly Roll, who has sought redemption from criminal past

Tennessee's governor pardoned country star Jelly Roll on Thursday for his criminal past in the state, acknowledging the Nashville native's long road back from drugs and prison through soul-searching, songwriting and advocacy for second chances.

12 hours ago in Business, Entertainment, Local, Sports

Lucky Horseshoes announce 2026 schedule

The schedule includes a two-city, day-night doubleheader with Decatur's new team.

17 hours ago in Entertainment

Add expectant father to Allen’s list of achievements in Buffalo, after Steinfeld announces pregnancy

Marriage, fatherhood and an NFL MVP honor were the furthest things on Josh Allen's mind when he arrived in Buffalo as a raw but promising quarterback prospect in April 2018.

17 hours ago in Entertainment

Thousands of fans join tribute to reggae pioneer Jimmy Cliff in his native Jamaica

The instructions on Wednesday were clear: no serious, sad or long faces. And the crowd filing into a gymnasium in Jamaica's capital largely obliged as they honored reggae giant Jimmy Cliff.