Champaign man gets probation for damaging home of children's mother in 2023

URBANA — A Champaign man has been sentenced to one year of probation for damaging the home of a woman he has children with early last year.

Champaign County Judge Roger Webber handed down the sentence this month to Keisean L. Cooper, 32, after he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to property worth less than $500.

In exchange for the guilty plea, the state dismissed one count of residential burglary and two counts of criminal damage to property worth between $500 and $10,000.

Cooper was also ordered to enroll in and successfully complete a partner-abuse prevention program.

A Rantoul police report said around 3 a.m. on Jan. 28, 2023, Cooper damaged the doorway to the home of a woman he has children with and entered the house.

Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Larson said his office dismissed the residential-burglary charge and greater criminal-damage charges because the state no longer had access to one of the witnesses from the incident.

Another witness said the damage totaled to less than $500.

Cooper faced four to 15 years in prison if he had been convicted of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony.