COLLINSVILLE – A Centralia man accused of attempting to rob a Collinsville liquor store remains in custody pending a felony charge.
Jesse L. Kempfer, 45, of Centralia, Ill. was charged on Dec. 9, 2025 with a Class 2 felony count of attempted aggravated robbery. Kempfer allegedly entered the Sav-On Liquor at 809 St. Louis Road in Collinsville with the intent to commit an aggravated robbery on Dec. 5, 2025.
Charging documents state Kempfer wore a ski mask during the offense and ordered a store employee to “give him everything in the cash drawer” while indicating either physically or verbally that he was armed with a dangerous weapon.
A petition to deny Kempfer’s pretrial release from custody was filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to the petition, officers responded to the reported robbery at Sav-On Liquor, where video footage showed the incident unfold.
“On video, a white male can be observed pulling into a gas pump, then running into the store in a ski mask, while holding a white grocery bag,” the petition states. “The suspect places the grocery bag on the counter, and the employee can be seen putting money on the counter.”
The store employee told officers the suspect said to “give me everything you have in the drawer” and that he didn’t want to “hurt you or anybody out here.” The employee reportedly then placed four $20 bills on the counter, but video shows the money had been placed behind the suspect’s bag rather than inside of it, which caused the suspect to flee the scene without the money.
The employee also reported seeing a “black handle” in the suspect’s pants, believing it to be a weapon. When officers found Kempfer and his vehicle the following day, they reportedly found “a ski mask and black handled machete in the front passenger seat.”
“Officers located Jesse Kempfer in Columbia, Ill., the next day, driving the same vehicle and wearing the same clothing as the suspect,” the petition states. “Officers interviewed Kempfer, who stated that he took fentanyl the day prior and blacked out.”
The Collinsville Police Department presented the case against Kempfer, who currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
