WASHINGTON COUNTY — The Illinois Fifth Appellate Court affirmed the Washington County Court’s detention order issued in November of accused murderer Milton E. Robinson.

Robinson is one of three defendants from Belleville accused of the July 2023 murder of 44-year-old Montez Pearson.

Pearson’s body was discovered on July 19 near Lunte Creek Road in Washington County.

Police arrested 57-year-old Kevin Loucks on July 23 after a search warrant was executed at his residence in Belleville.

Two other men from Belleville, 57-year-old Robinson, and 45-year-old Arrion Sanders, were also charged in the case.

The arrests came before the SAFE-T Act went into effect and were held on $1 million bail each. After the new law went into effect, Washington County prosecutors filed a petition to detain, which was granted, with the circuit court finding the three men posed a danger to the public.

Robinson appealed that decision, but the Appeals Court on Tuesday affirmed the circuit court’s decision, allowing the prosecution of Robinson and Sanders to move forward while they remain in custody.

A Washington County judge found Loucks guilty of First Degree Murder and he remains in custody awaiting trial, pending the outcome of Sanders’ case. Both Sanders and Robinson are scheduled for jury trials in April.