Yinger To Close Collinsville Studio 420 Under Deferred Prosecution Agreement

COLLINSVILLE – Madison County authorities have agreed to postpone the prosecution of Collinsville Studio 420 Owner Zach Yinger and may heavily amend the charge against him if he complies with a series of demands.

An “Agreement of Deferred Prosecution” was filed last Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in the felony case against Yinger, a 38-year-old Alton resident who was charged on Sept. 19, 2025 with a Class 3 felony count of unlawful possession of nitrous oxide with the intent to deliver.

This felony charge would be amended to a misdemeanor count of Reckless Conduct if Yinger complies with certain conditions of the agreement, including that he:

1. Close the business and cease all operations at the Studio 420 store location at 106 Main Street in Collinsville within 90 days

2. Permanently cease sales of any nitrous oxide products at any of his Madison County businesses and abide by all sales restrictions related to hemp products

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   Provide at least 30 days notice prior to opening or intending to open any additional businesses in Madison County

4. Pay a sum of $20,000 in restitution payable to the “Friends of MCTAC” Madison County Problem Solving Task Force

5. Not violate any criminal statutes or municipal ordinances of any jurisdictions within the United States

If Yinger fully complies with all of these conditions for the next 24 months until Feb. 18, 2028, he would be convicted of the misdemeanor Reckless Conduct charge and ordered to pay any associated court costs with no additional sentence. If Yinger violates any of these terms, the state can proceed with the case as originally charged.

This would mark the second closure of a Studio 420 location amid suspected illegal activity after the smoke shop’s Alton location was “voluntarily permanently closed” in May of 2024 just weeks after an Alton Police raid.

Yinger’s attorney, Edward Unsell, participated in the negotiation of the agreement, which states it is “in the best interest of the State of Illinois and the citizens of Madison County that this agreement be entered and Zachariah Yinger proceeds to lead a law-abiding life from this day forward.”

All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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