Police arrest Pekin man wanted since Nov. 2020 for car burglary

SYCAMORE - A Pekin man wanted for his role in a car burglary about a year ago was arrested Saturday and appeared in DeKalb County court for a bond hearing over the weekend.

Kevin M. Meeks, 48, of the 1500 block of Hamilton Street in Pekin, is charged with burglary, solicitation to commit burglary, and theft of services. If convicted of the most serious crime, burglary, a Class 2 felony, Meeks could face up to seven years in jail and fines up to $25,000.

Meeks was the second person arrested and facing charges in connection to the incident. According to DeKalb County court records, police said Meeks convinced a second man, John A. Berlin, 39, of the 6400 block of Shawneetown, to go with him to AMK Auto Body, an impound lot in Waterman, to help him break his car out of the lot. Police said Meeks also did not pay any of the tow fees owed to the lot or to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.

Berlin pleaded guilty to the burglary a week ago, and, along with a guilty plea for charges of possession of methamphetamine related to a separate incident, was sentenced by DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick to 24 months of conditional discharge, meaning he will not serve jail time. Berlin faced up to seven years in jail and fines up to $25,000.

Meeks, who’s been wanted in connection to the Nov. 8, 2020 incident since Sept. 16, 2021, according to DeKalb County court records, was given a $25,000 recognizance bond by Judge Thomas Doherty during a virtual bond hearing Oct. 2 from the DeKalb County Jail. Meeks was released from jail Monday, records show.

According to court records, around 7:30 a.m. Nov. 8, 2020, Meeks and Berlin broke into the Waterman lot and stole a white 2005 GMC Yukon, registered to Meeks, out of the facility without paying the tow or lot fees.

Berlin is next set to appear for a status hearing on the charges at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 16.