Crimestoppers names two Cass County men wanted on multiple charges

A regional Crimestoppers bulletin on June 6 put two Cass County men in the spotlight, and the details reach beyond Beardstown. The alert gave names, physical descriptions, alleged charges and last-known addresses, the kind of information that can turn a tip from a passerby in Morgan County into an arrest somewhere across the three-county area.

Alexandro Soria, 24, was listed as wanted for obstructing police, criminal damage to property, DUI and reckless driving. Crimestoppers described him as a Hispanic male, 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last known to have lived on West Third Street in Beardstown, making him a familiar name for anyone who follows public-safety notices out of west-central Illinois.

James Whitis, 45, was also named in the same bulletin. He was wanted for possession of meth with intent to deliver. Crimestoppers described him as a white male, 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last thought to be living on East 5th in Beardstown. In a region where drug cases often move across county boundaries, that charge carries broader implications than one street address in Cass County.

Crime Stoppers of Morgan, Scott & Cass Counties said tips can be called in at 217-243-7300, and that reports can also be submitted through its website or Facebook page. The organization says it provides anonymous reporting and has maintained an anonymous crime tip line for more than 30 years, while the Jacksonville Police Department also lists the same number as a useful local contact.

That cross-county structure is what makes the June 6 bulletin relevant in Morgan County as well as Cass County. Crime Stoppers USA says local programs pass information on unsolved felony crimes and fugitives wanted on felony charges to the appropriate law enforcement agency, which means a tip from one town can help move a case in another. The group regularly highlights wanted subjects across Morgan, Scott and Cass counties, reinforcing that residents in Jacksonville, Beardstown and surrounding communities are being asked to watch the same regional law-enforcement map.