A McLean County jury has convicted a Decatur man on weapons and harassment charges after prosecutors say he repeatedly tried to intimidate the victim to change her story.
The Normal Police Department said Aundera Gardner harassed the mother of his two children through text messages.
McLean County State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds said Gardner had ongoing contact with the victim “directly and through third persons in this case from the jail.” Reynolds said Gardner urged the woman to change her story.
The McLean County Sheriff’s Department tried 27 times to serve a subpoena for her to testify.
A judge allowed prosecutors to use the alleged victim's recorded statements during the trial and that prevented the defense from cross-examining her.
“Let this serve as a reminder to those in the community that if a person engages in systemic intimidation of a witness in a pending matter, the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office will use every tool available to successfully prosecute the matter and in some cases that means using the witness’ statements without them being present,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Gardner was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, possession of a stolen vehicle and harassment through electronic communication.
He will be sentenced Feb. 29. The charges carry possible sentences of up to 48 years in prison.
