Carbondale man sentenced to 26 years for aggravated battery, drug distribution

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CARBONDALE, Ill., (KBSI) — A Carbondale man has been sentenced to 26 years in prison after being convicted in two separate jury trials of aggravated battery and unlawful delivery of cocaine, according to the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

State’s Attorney Marsha L. Cascio-Hale said Brandon O. Brown, 39, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections following jury trials held in September and November 2025.

In the first case, prosecutors said Brown was convicted of aggravated battery stemming from an incident on Oct. 20, 2024, at a Walmart in Carbondale. Evidence presented at trial showed Brown and a juvenile traveled to the store, where the juvenile was stopped by an asset protection employee on suspicion of shoplifting. After the juvenile returned to Brown’s vehicle, the employee photographed the license plate and walked away. Prosecutors said Brown then exited the vehicle, followed the employee, struck him in the head and broke his phone. The employee was taken to the hospital for treatment and later testified that he continues to experience memory issues as a result of the attack.

In a separate four-day trial, Brown was convicted of unlawful delivery of cocaine related to a Jan. 6, 2021, incident in Carbondale. Prosecutors said Brown sold about 17.7 grams of cocaine inside his home while family members were present. The transaction was recorded on audio and video by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Following the guilty verdicts, a presentence investigation was completed by the Jackson County Probation Office. On Jan. 28, 2026, the court sentenced Brown to 22 years in prison for the cocaine conviction and four years for the aggravated battery conviction. The judge ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 26 years.

Assistant State’s Attorney Sophia Allen prosecuted the cases. Cascio-Hale said the aggravated battery was an unprovoked attack on an employee performing his job and that drug distribution exploits individuals struggling with substance abuse.

The Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office credited bystanders who assisted the injured employee, as well as the Carbondale Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, for their investigative work.