An April 17th sentencing date has been set for a woman convicted on two counts of aggravated battery of a Danville Police Officer. A Vermilion County Circuit Court jury found 23-year-old Deborah White guilty of holding a can of pepper spray against the face of Officer Ryan Birge and spraying mace into his eyes, hair and mouth.
Officer Birge and some other officers had responded to a disturbance outside Club Deuce in the 600 block of North Vermilion Street. Jurors were told Officer Birge was helping to break up altercations that had developed among a crowd of about 100 people when he was sprayed with the pepper spray. The defendant, Deborah White, attempted to flee the scene in her vehicle, but was apprehended by a Danville Police Detective.
Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanked the jurors for their time and attention to the case. ‘’Acts of violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated in Vermilion County,’’ said Lacy.
White faces a potential sentence ranging from probation up to seven years in prison.
