03-03-2025
Urbana man pleads guilty to weapon charges, sentenced to 8 years
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A traffic stop that took place in 2023 led to a former Urbana man pleading guilty to the aggravated unlawful use of a weapon last week.
27-year-old Warren Montgomery pleaded guilty to the class 2 felony on Feb. 26, 2025, and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
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According to Vermilion County State's Attorney Jacqueline Lacy, on July 16, 2023, an officer with the Danville Police Department spotted a Gold Volkswagen Tiguan that was missing rear lights. The officer conducted a traffic stop, and while the officer was able to identify the driver, the passenger refused to identify himself.
The driver had a valid driver's license and a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, and said there was a firearm in the vehicle. The driver also said that a magazine was in a glove box.
The driver gave consent for a vehicle search, according to Lacy, and the officer found a magazine and a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun that did not belong to the driver. The Taurus G3C belonged to the passenger, who was eventually identified as Warren Montgomery.
Montgomery had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court, as well as a previous conviction for aggravated unlawful use of weapons.
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'This case shows the crucial role police officers play in keeping our community safe. The diligence of this Danville Police officer during a traffic stop helped to remove an illegal firearm from the street and we were able to hold another repeat offender accountable. My office will continue to work with police in our community to protect the good People of Vermilion County and to uphold the law,' Lacy said.
Montgomery will serve eight years with the Illinois Department of Corrections and will also serve one year of mandatory supervised release following his prison sentence.
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