A Crystal Lake man was sentenced to seven years in prison for possessing multiple guns and a pound of cannabis, which was found during a traffic stop.
Antione Belford, 23, of the 3600 block of Deep Wood Drive in Crystal Lake, was charged with armed habitual criminal, eight counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, obstructing justice, two counts of unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and two counts of unlawful possession of cannabis.
Court documents show a vehicle fled from deputies with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office on August 16 as they tried to conduct a traffic stop.
Sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle and found over 100 grams of cannabis in it. Prosecutors said Belford had been in the vehicle that fled from police.
Deputies conducted surveillance on a house associated with Belford. They spotted him exiting the residence and getting into a vehicle.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and a search led to four guns being located, court documents said. Ammunition for the guns was also located.
Belford allegedly threw separate packages, totaling over 500 grams of cannabis, into a ditch line on Needle Creek Court in Crystal Lake during the stop.
Belford was previously convicted of felony burglary in Cook County and is not allowed to possess any firearms or ammunition.
On Thursday, Belford entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt approved the plea deal and sentenced Belford to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The case was investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force and prosecuted by Brian Miller of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.