Pretrial conference pushed back a week in kidnapping case

JONESBORO, Ill. -- An Anna, Ill., woman accused of kidnapping a newborn at knifepoint this summer will have a pretrial conference next week.

Karen Nichols, 44, was scheduled for a pretrial conference Tuesday, but Circuit Judge Mark Boie reset the conference for Nov. 5 after a conversation with her attorney, public defender Patrick Duffy, and Union County, Ill., State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds.

Nichols faces felony charges of aggravated kidnapping of a child younger than 13 years old, armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint.

She is accused of kidnapping a baby at knife point June 28 in rural Union County.

In August, Duffy filed notice of his intent to raise an affirmative defense, in which the defendant admits to unlawful behavior but presents information justifying or excusing the behavior.

Duffy said in court last month that at the time of the alleged kidnapping, Nichols was taking medication for injuries she had sustained in a traffic accident, which may have influenced her actions.

Pertinent address:

Anna, IL

Jonesboro, IL