Lawsuit Filed Against Sheriff’s Office

A lawsuit has been filed in Jefferson County District Court against the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office as well as individual employees of the Sheriff’s Office. The paperwork was filed on Wednesday, April 20, by attorney Dustin Garrison on behalf of his client, Davian Snyder, 26, of Fairbury.Snyder currently has two pending criminal cases in Jefferson County. A warrant was issued for Snyder's arrest on November 29, 2021 and he was arrested on December 7, 2021.In the lawsuit, Garrison alleges the arrest was unlawful and is seeking unspecified damages.In one case, Snyder is charged with domestic assault, a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.On October 13 of this year, Jefferson County Deputies responded to a report that the defendant had struck someone, according to the arrest affidavit. The reporting party was the alleged victim. A warrant was issued for Snyder's arrest on November 29, 2021.In the second case, Snyder is charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a class 4 felony punishable by two years in prison, 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine. He is also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction that carries a $100 fine.On December 7, 2021, at approximately 10:16 p.m., Jefferson County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near 5th and D streets in Fairbury after observing a vehicle with a defective tail light, according to the affidavit.According to the deputy that filled out the Arrest Affidavit, “I believed Snyder to have an active arrest warrant out of Jefferson County and had Jefferson County Communications confirm the warrant. Dispatch advised the warrant for Domestic Assault in the 3rd Degree was active with a $25,000 Ten Percent Bond. The warrant was issued November 30, 2021. When advised of this, Snyder stated something to the effect of, 'Well I have a meth pipe in my pocket.' Snyder then pulled out a glass pipe with a white crystal-like residue.”In accordance with a plea agreement, the felony charge will be reduced to a charge of attempted possession of a controlled substance, a class 1 misdemeanor. The remaining charges will be dismissed pending completion of the plea agreement.Garrison advised FJN that his client had been accepted into the Diversion Program. The Diversion Program is a voluntary program that offers a one-time chance for a person charged with certain crimes to avoid having a criminal conviction on their record. However, Snyder does have a prior criminal record.In 2017, he was sentenced in Jefferson County to 13 months’ probation for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). In 2021, Snyder was charged with theft by receipt of stolen property and pleaded No Contest to a reduced charge of attempt of a class 2 misdemeanor, which is a class 3 misdemeanor. He was given a $250 fine.At this time, Snyder is currently free on bonds of $7,500 (10 percent) for each case.

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