John J. Hennings, a 42-year-old resident of Beardstown, has been sentenced to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The conviction, announced by Cass County State’s Attorney Craig R. Miller, stems from an arrest on January 12, 2024.
On that date, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with Beardstown Police, stopped a vehicle in which Hennings was a passenger. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, officers discovered 12.3 grams of methamphetamine and a scale in the passenger seat. A subsequent analysis by the Illinois State Police confirmed the substance was methamphetamine.
At the time of his arrest, Hennings also faced pending charges from an earlier arrest on July 7, 2023, for possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Following his January 2024 arrest, Hennings was apprehended on new charges of methamphetamine possession and possession of a controlled substance while on pretrial release. Under a plea agreement, those charges were dismissed by Judge Timothy J. Wessel.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hennings will serve one year of mandatory supervised release and pay a county fine. He was granted day-for-day credit for time already served.
