Illinois punishes those who are found guilty of possession of a stolen firearm. In addition to thousands of dollars in fines, punishments for this crime can also include as long as seven or even 14 years behind bars.
On the other hand, Illinois has a separate offense for possessing multiple firearms, which is called aggravated possession of a stolen firearm under 720 ILCS 5/24-3.9. Here, the number of firearms and the period over which they were possessed will determine the charge and sentencing range.
If you are facing charges for aggravated possession of a firearm in Illinois, you can defend yourself by contacting a Schaumburg weapons charge defense lawyer at Glasgow & Olsson. The attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson have the resources, experience, and skill to help you obtain the most favourable results.
Sentencing Guidelines
You may face the following repercussions if you are convicted of aggravated possession of a firearm in Illinois.
- 2-5 firearms at the same time or within one year is a Class 1 felony, which may come with a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
- 6-10 firearms at the same time or within two years is a Class X felony that can come with 6-30 years in prison.
- 11-20 firearms at the same time or within three years is a Class X felony that can come with a 6-40 year prison sentence.
- 21-30 firearms at the same time or within four years is a Class X felony that can come with a 6-50 year sentence.
- More than 30 firearms at the same time or within five years is a Class X felony that can come with a 6-60 year prison sentence.
A Point About “Illegally Possessed”
It is essential to understand that in an aggravated possession of a stolen firearm case, the statute defines two separate concepts:
- The person must not be entitled to possess the firearm.
- The person must know the firearm was stolen or converted.
Therefore, a person’s unlawful possession of a firearm does not, standing alone, establish that the person knew the firearm was stolen.
Finally, there can be additional firearm charges depending on a person’s criminal history and circumstances. For example, the state of Illinois separately criminalizes firearm possession by certain people, such as people with prior felony convictions.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
Understanding your rights and obtaining legal representation early when you are facing allegations of gun law violations in Illinois best positions you for the most favorable results. For more information, please speak with our Schaumburg criminal defense attorneys at Glasgow & Olsson today and learn how decades of trusted experience can protect what matters most to you.
Our law firm is widely recognized as a leading authority in criminal law. For this reason, Attorney Thomas T. Glasgow is a trusted legal voice who is regularly invited to appear on major networks, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
When your rights and freedoms are on the line, having an attorney on your side with an excellent reputation and unimpeachable experience matters.