A convicted felon was arrested after he allegedly possessed an AR-15 rifle and ditched it at a public library, which is next to an elementary school, in Crystal Lake.
Robert J. Walker Jr., 50, of Oakwood Hills, was charged with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon with a previous conviction, possession of a firearm while ineligible for a FOID and possession of a firearm within a school zone.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Walker possessed a DSA Arms Model ZM4 AR-15 rifle at a residence in the 50 block of McHenry Avenue in Crystal Lake from September 21 to September 26.
The complaint said Walker has a prior felony conviction in McHenry County that prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Walker was also allegedly in possession of ammunition for the rifle at the residence.
The complaint, written by a police detective, said Walker took the AR-15 rifle and attempted to conceal it around 12:40 p.m. on Friday.
The gun was placed in a bush on the property of the Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 West Paddock Street in Crystal Lake, the complaint said.
The library is located directly across the street from Husmann Elementary School, 131 West Paddock Street.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said detectives conducted an interview with a subject at the McHenry Avenue residence around 9:30 a.m. Friday while investigating a theft report.
Detectives were alerted to the presence of a gun inside the home and took control of the weapon while detaining Walker.
Kotlowski said that officers did not recover the gun in the bushes of the library but he did not explain further when the gun was in the bushes of the library or who witnessed Walker allegedly place it there.
“This is an active investigation. I have no further comment on the case at this time,” he told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
“There were no threats made involving the possession of the firearm. There was no need to alert nearby schools, library or residents because there was no danger to them. Police were present, had possession of the weapon and the subject was in custody,” Kotlowski said.
Walker’s prior felony conviction was in 1993 when he was found guilty of burglary, a Class 2 felony, court records show.
Court documents show Walker burglarized a vehicle in the 6200 block of Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake on January 26, 1993, and stole a purse, $50, a checkbook and multiple credit cards after breaking a truck window.
He initially received probation in the case but was later sentenced to three years in prison.
Walker was transported to the McHenry County Jail after his arrest on Friday and appeared for an Initial Appearance Court hearing on Saturday.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Walker pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to the community.
McHenry County Judge Joel Berg denied the petition and allowed Walker to be released from custody.
Walker is scheduled to appear in court again on October 24 for a status of preliminary hearing.