A convicted felon cried at his court hearings after a judge ordered him detained for allegedly possessing a loaded gun and drugs during a traffic stop in Zion.
Trevor L. Gregory, 20, of Round Lake, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon enhanced, felon in possession of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis over 30 grams, driving on a revoked license and registration light violation.
The Zion Police Department noticed a vehicle circling around Zion repeatedly in the early morning hours on February 3.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the vehicle had heavy tint and a non-working registration light.
A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, which was driven by Gregory and had a 20-year-old passenger.
The passenger had an active warrant and was arrested.
Gregory admitted he was driving on a revoked license, Katris said. He was also on pre-trial release for three cases involving the same offense and for unlawful possession of cannabis.
Officers searched the car and found a backpack in the backseat with 30 1,000 mg vape pens, which matched the vape pen that Gregory had in his pocket.
Gregory admitted to possessing the cannabis and also had over $500 in cash on him, Katris said.
Katris said officers also found a loaded handgun under Gregory’s seat. The handle of the gun was facing the driver, making it easily accessible.
Gregory is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess guns, Katris said. He does not have a concealed carry license or Firearm Owner’s Identification card.
Gregory has been sentenced to prison for operating a vehicle without consent and aggravated fleeing to elude. He is currently on parole.
Gregory denied possessing the gun and blamed it on the passenger.
Gregory said the passenger reached behind the driver’s seat and placed it underneath but the statement was inconsistent with where the gun was found, Katris said.
Officers transported him to the police department and found six Alprazolam pills were found in the backseat of the squad where he was sitting, Katris said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Gregory pending trial and a petition to revoke his release in one of his other pending cases.
Gregory appeared for a First Appearance Court hearing where he requested the public defender’s office to represent him.
During the hearing, Gregory appeared in shock with his mouth open the entire time prosecutors detailed the allegations against him.
At one point, Gregory asked Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim if he could talk to the judge privately.
Nerheim informed Gregory he would be held in custody until a detention hearing.
Gregory told the judge the gun did not belong to him and began crying in court as he was escorted to the jail by deputies.
The detention hearing was held last Wednesday before Judge Nerheim, who granted the petition to detain Gregory and the petition to revoke his pre-trial release.
Gregory again began crying in court following the ruling.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on February 25 for a preliminary hearing.