A Jackson County jury found a Marion man guilty of unlawful use of weapons and three other Illinois crimes after a two-day trial, according to an article by CBS affiliate KFVS.
The incident that gave rise to this criminal case dates back to January 2019. That is when the Marion man brandished a firearm at a convenience store. When Carbondale police officers arrived at the scene, the Marion man attempted to flee on foot.
The police officers gave chase and eventually apprehended the Marion man. During the ensuing investigation, the officers discovered a pistol with a defaced serial number and one round of live ammunition.
As a result of his actions, the Marion man faced charges for unlawful use of a weapon, defacing a firearm, and two other crimes. After the trial concluded on July 19th, the jury determined that the Marion man was guilty on all four counts.
At this juncture, the court will set a sentencing date to determine the Marion man’s exact punishment. In order to understand part of the Marion man’s potential sentence, it will be necessary to analyze the Illinois penalties for unlawful use of a weapon and defacing a firearm.
Illinois Penalties for Unlawful Use of a Weapon
The Illinois penalties for unlawful use of a weapon appear under 720 ILCS 5/24-1. In many situations, this section categorizes unlawful use of a weapon as a Class A misdemeanor. This class of misdemeanor is typically punishable by:
- Sentence Range — 364 days maximum;
- Criminal Fines — $2,500, unless offense dictates otherwise; and
- Conditional Discharge — 24 months maximum.
Illinois Penalties for Defacing a Firearm
The Illinois penalties for defacing the identification marks of a firearm appear under 720 ILCS 5/24-5. There are separate charges based whether the offender merely possessed a defaced firearm or actually altered the serial number.
If a person possesses a defaced firearm, it is a Class 3 felony in Illinois. This class of felony is ordinarily punishable by:
- Sentence Range — 24 to 60 months;
- Criminal Fines — $25,000 maximum;
- Mandatory Supervised Release — 24 months; and
- Conditional Discharge — 48 months.
If a person defaces a firearm — by changing, altering, removing, or obliterating the serial number — it is a Class 2 felony in Illinois. This class of felony is usually punishable by:
- Sentence Range — 36 to 84 months;
- Criminal Fines — $25,000 maximum;
- Mandatory Supervised Release — 24 months; and
- Conditional Discharge — 48 months.
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.
(image courtesy of Rene Bohmer)