A man serving eight-years in prison on a Mercer County theft conviction turned town in his request for post-conviction relief. 35 year old Jayme Ontiveros was tried in absentia in August of 2013 and sentenced in February of 2014. He was claiming ineffective counsel and violation of speedy trial in his post-conviction petition, which was dismissed Tuesday in Mercer County Circuit Court by Judge Thomas Berglund. Ontiveros was representing himself in court. He remains in custody at the Robinson Correctional Center. An appellate defender is now being ordered for his case. Ontiveros was convicted on a Class 3 felony of theft between $500 and $10,000. He is also serving prison sentences stemming from cases in Henry and Rock Island Counties.
