Bloomington authorities charged a man from Chicago with three felony weapon crimes, including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
This incident occurred on Friday, June 17 at approximately 10 p.m. That is when Bloomington police executed a traffic stop for a potential violation. The Chicago man was allegedly driving the vehicle on a suspended license. So the police arrested the Chicago man and searched the vehicle. During this search, police discovered a handgun in the trunk. This handgun was fully loaded and recently reported stolen.
As a result of this incident, local authorities charged the Chicago man with:
- Possession of a stolen firearm;
- Unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon; and
- Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
At this juncture, the Chicago man declined to post bail and remains in police custody at the McLean County Jail. To understand the potential consequences at play, it will be helpful to review the Illinois penalties for all three of the aforementioned crimes.
Possession of Stolen Firearm
720 ILCS 5/24-3.8 provides the Illinois punishment for possession of a stolen firearm. Under this section, possession of a stolen firearm is generally punishable as a Class 2 felony.
The Illinois statutory penalties for Class 2 felonies include three to seven years in prison, up to $25,000 in criminal fines, and up to 48 months of probation or conditional discharge.
Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon
720 ILCS 5/24-1.1 furnishes the Illinois punishment for unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon. Under this section, unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon is typically punishable as follows:
- First Offense — Class 3 felony with a potential prison sentence between two and 10 years, up to $25,000 in criminal fines, and up to 30 months of probation or conditional discharge; or
- Second or Subsequent Offense —Class 2 felony with a potential prison sentence between three and 14 years, up to $25,000 in criminal fines, and up to 48 months of probation or conditional discharge.
Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon
720 ILCS 5/24-1.6 describes the Illinois punishment for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Under this section, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon is usually punishable as follows:
- First Offense — Class 4 felony with a potential prison sentence between one and three years, up to $25,000 in criminal fines, and up to 30 months of probation or conditional discharge; or
- Second or Subsequent Offense — Class 2 felony with a potential prison sentence between three and seven years, up to $25,000 in criminal fines, and up to 48 months of probation or conditional discharge.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in matters of criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com or by completing an online form.