Jose M. Valentin, 43, along with his attorney, Jonathan Ruud, appeared in court for an arraignment hearing at the Henry County Courthouse on Monday, April 1. Valentin was arraigned on two counts of murder with the intent to kill/injure in the death of Jimmy Hollins II, 31, of Kewanee.
Hollins was found lying in the roadway in the 100 block of Houle Avenue on Sunday, March 24. The Kewanee Police Department arrived on the scene around 7:30 p.m. and found Hollins injured with a gunshot wound to his neck. In spite of life-saving efforts by paramedics, Hollins was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The KPD, along with multiple law enforcement agencies, launched an investigation into Hollins’ death and as a result of that investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Valentin on Thursday, March 28. Later that evening, according to the KPD, Valentin was located and apprehended by the North Riverside Police Department. He was later transported to the Henry County Jail.
On Monday, the state filed a petition to deny Valentin a pretrial release. Valentin will remain in custody and the petition was continued until the preliminary hearing next week.
Attorney Ruud entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of the defendant with a request for a speedy trial. Valentin’s preliminary hearing, where a judge will determine if there is enough probable cause to proceed to trial, is set for Monday, April 8 at 2 p.m.
