Meth Defendant No Show For Mercer County Court Appearance

A rural New Boston man fails to appear in court for his meth case. 54-year-old Lester Ward is facing a Class X felony. Mercer County State’s Attorney Grace Simpson asked for a warrant to be issued Tuesday morning while Ward’s attorney sought a continuance. Judge Derek Hanks granted the continuance but noted this will be the only time. Ward is due back in court on Oct. 19. He was charged with the Class X felony after Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputies, Quad Cities MEG agents and Illinois State Police executed a search warrant at his residence in January of 2020. Ward is free after posting ten percent of his $400,000 bond last year.