The sheriff says a man, who is a convicted felon, was found with nearly 400 guns, body armor and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in his home near Richmond.
Jerome N. Ruckdeschel, 66, of Richmond, was indicted by a McHenry County grand jury on nearly a dozen felonies on Thursday.
He faces charges of four counts of possession of firearms while in possession of body armor by a felon, one count of possession of firearm ammunition while possessing body armor by a felon, one count of possession of a machine gun by a felon, three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of possession of ammunition by a felon and one count of unlawful use of a weapon for possessing a silencer.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday that they received information on October 15 regarding Ruckdeschel unlawfully possessing firearms at his residence in the 9900 block of Clark Road in unincorporated Richmond.
Members of the sheriff’s office responded to the residence and began an investigation.
A search warrant was secured for the residence and executed by the sheriff’s office’s Criminal Investigations Division.
191 completed firearms, 198 partial firearms, suppressors, a ballistic vest and helmet, and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Ruckdeschel was found in possession of numerous handguns, long guns and shotguns.
Court documents said Ruckdeschel “built up an arsenal of weapons.”
Dozens of guns with loaded magazines inserted were found hidden all over his house, court documents said.
Ruckdeschel is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms, the complaint said.
McHenry County Judge Carl Metz granted a petition filed by the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office to detain Ruckdeschel pending trial.
Metz said Ruckdeschel poses a threat to the community and no conditions of release could mitigate the risk.
The judge, citing a probable cause statement, said a massive force would be needed to sweep Ruckdeschel’s property and home to ensure there were no more weapons inside.
“But even then given that the weapons and ammunition were found in hidden walls and jackets the court cannot be satisfied that all weapons and ammunition will be removed,” Metz said.
Ruckdeschel remains held in the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 15 for a preliminary hearing.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing.