A 16-year-old Salem juvenile boy tried as an adult in a stabbing last June of a 16-year-old Salem girl has been sentenced to 17 years in prison on a Class X felony charge of attempted first degree murder.
Tayshaun Rinehart of Woodard Road entered a negotiated plea before Judge Mark Stedelin in Marion County Court on Tuesday. He also received a seven-year prison term for aggravated battery in connection with the same incident. Rinehart will have to serve at least 85-percent of the sentence. Charges of armed violence and two counts of aggravated battery were dropped.
The victim was airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital for treatment. She testified at the hearing, saying the night of the stabbing was the worst day of her life but things are better now as she is surrounded by people she loved. The girl was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen and back area. She was bleeding profusely when found by Salem Police who used a tourniquet to try and stop the worse bleeding. A Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived in about 30 seconds after the stabbing was reported and took Rinehart into custody at the residence in Salem Mobile Home Park where the stabbing occurred.
Rinehart gave a statement to the court, apologizing for his actions.
He will serve his time in the juvenile Illinois Department of Corrections until he turns 18 when he will be transferred to an adult prison. Rinehart was given credit for 254 days already served in juvenile detention awaiting trial. After getting out of prison, Rinehart will have to serve three years of mandatory supervised release. He was also fined $75.
