A judge sentenced an Antioch man, who is a convicted felon, to 20 years in prison after he was found with a large amount of drugs and then tried to hide a gun in the back of a squad after his arrest in McHenry.
John T. Boland, 40, of Antioch, was charged in May 2024 with manufacturing or delivery of 15-100 grams of cocaine, two counts of armed violence, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of 15-100 grams of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine under five grams.
Prosecutors said Boland was on supervised release from the Illinois Department of Corrections on May 3, 2024.
A McHenry police officer was on routine traffic patrol and was aware of an all-points bulletin issued on a car associated with Boland.
The bulletin had been issued in April 2024 after it fled from law enforcement, prosecutors said.
The officer spotted the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.
A search of the car resulted in a backpack that belonged to Boland, prosecutors said.
The backpack contained a large amount of cocaine and methamphetamine pills, along with some of Boland’s personal items, prosecutors said.
Court documents said Boland was found in possession of a Glock 43 handgun and tried to hide the gun in a police car after he was placed into custody.
DNA analysis was also conducted linking the gun to him, prosecutors said. Boland is a convicted felon.
A jury trial was held in January and the jury found Boland guilty on all of the charges following the three-day trial in front of McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis.
A sentencing hearing was held on Friday and Davis sentenced Boland to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
“The combination of illegal drugs and firearms poses a significant threat to public safety, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who engage in this dangerous conduct are brought to justice,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.
Freese said she recognizes the McHenry Police Department, Grayslake Police Department, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for their “collaborative efforts in this investigation and their ongoing commitment to public safety.”
She said forensic scientists Gina Havlik and Deepthi Nori of the Northern Illinois Regional Crime Lab (NIRCL) also played a critical role in the case with their analysis and testimony.