Brothers Arrested in Springfield on Weapon Charges

Convicted felons are not allowed to possess weapons in Illinois, even if the prior felony conviction occurred in another state. The ban is total and absolute. Two brothers who are alleged to be convicted felons in possession of weapons were arrested in Springfield on Jan. 13, 2021. They may learn about this law the hard way.

The arrests and allegations

The two men, ages 36 and 42, were arrested at 6:30 a.m. by the Springfield Police Department at a residence on South Loveland Avenue. Both men were inside the house, and neither resisted arrest.

Police say they recovered multiple firearms, ammunition and other contraband from the house. The two men are alleged to be brothers, and both are alleged to be convicted felons, although the police did not release any details of the prior convictions. The men were charged with possession of a weapon by a felon and were incarcerated in the Sangamon County Jail. Police have not said whether they possessed a warrant to enter the house or to arrest the two men.

Possible penalties

A felon who is convicted of possessing a firearm is guilty of a Class 3 felony, the penalty for which is incarceration from 2 to 10 years. A second violation may draw a sentence of 3 to 14 years.

The two suspects in this case are facing serious penalties if they are convicted of the charges entered against them. They are of course entitled to be presumed innocent unless and until they have been convicted of the charges by evidence that leaves no reasonable doubt about their guilt. Nevertheless, the assistance of an experienced criminal defense attorney might help bring about a positive outcome. A capable defense lawyer can provide an evaluation of the evidence, suggest possible defense strategies and, if appropriate, negotiate a satisfactory plea agreement.