Crime Stoppers seeks Morgan County man wanted on meth charges
Jacksonville’s Cornelius Nick Handy is wanted on four drug counts, and Crime Stoppers is asking for anonymous tips that could lead to an arrest.
Crime Stoppers put Cornelius Nick Handy of Jacksonville into the local spotlight on July 13, saying the 45-year-old is wanted on two counts of meth possession and two counts of drug paraphernalia possession.
Handy’s last known address was in the 300 block of East Independence. WLDS described him as a Black male, 5-foot-9, 140 pounds, with black hair and black eyes. Under Illinois law, methamphetamine possession is a Class 3 felony, while possession of drug paraphernalia is generally a Class A misdemeanor that carries a minimum $750 fine, making the allegations more serious than a routine warrant notice.
The same bulletin also identified a second wanted man, Jeremiah Budyn, 41, who is wanted on two counts of failure to register as a sex offender and one count of theft. Budyn was also wanted in Mason County, and his last known residence was on Myrtle in Virginia, Illinois. WLDS described Budyn as a white male, 5-foot-10, 260 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties said it has served local communities for more than three decades and continues to rely on anonymous tips. The Jacksonville Police Department lists the group’s contact number as 217-243-7300, and tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers’ website or Facebook page. Cash rewards are available when a tip leads to an arrest.
For Morgan County residents, the Handy listing stands out because it ties a local address to active meth-related warrants, a charge category that remains a persistent public-safety concern in small counties where drug cases often move between neighborhoods, deputies and courtrooms. The Budyn case widens that picture by adding a sex-offender registration violation and a Mason County connection, showing how these warrants can cross county lines and involve more than one law-enforcement agency.
In a county where people often recognize names, vehicles and home blocks before they see a formal arrest, the July 13 notice was a direct request for help from anyone who knows where either man is staying. Anonymous tips can still carry cash rewards if they lead to an arrest, giving neighbors a way to pass along information without putting their name on the record.
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