Logan County Costs for Murder Trial Tops $400,000

Logan County is facing a $419,000 tab for the trial and court proceedings for two central Illinois man who were charged in the deaths of five members of a Beason family.

The Bloomington Pantagraph reports the total legal costs for Christopher and Jason Harris topped $935,000.

Logan County officials sold $600,000 in revenue bonds to help finance their share of the bills.

Christopher Harris was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences for fatally beating members of his ex-wife's family. He had a trial.

Meanwhile, Jason Harris pleaded guilty to a series of charged and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The newspaper says taxpayers shouldered $257,000 for Christopher Harris' case and another $258,000 for his brother's. The legal fees paid for several lawyers and private investigators.