Belleville Resident Sentenced For Firearm Offense

James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on December 11, 2015, Jared L. Seats, 25, Belleville, IL, was sentenced for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Previously Convicted Felon. Seats received 92 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years’ supervised release, fined $250, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Seats also agreed to forfeit the illegal firearm that he possessed. Seats has been detained, that is, held without bond, since August 24, 2015.

At sentencing, evidence was presented that, on January 31, 2015, when Seats’ wife and two other individuals returned to the Seats’ residence, a verbal confrontation took place between Seats, his wife and one of the other individuals. When the argument ended, the two individuals remained outside in the driveway while Seats and his wife went into the residence. The two individuals reported to the police that they heard sounds as if the two were fighting inside the residence. The two individuals were unable to leave because their vehicle had been blocked in by Seats. One of the individuals tried to get in the house, cutting his/her hand on the side door’s window in the process, to get keys to the car so that the two individuals could leave. Evidence, including a 911 call, showed that, when the other individual returned to the driveway, Seats shot at the two individuals while they were standing in his driveway.

Seats was captured when officers arrived and recovered a Ruger, 22 caliber rifle from the residence. Seats admitted that he had possessed the rifle.

Before imposing sentencing, Honorable David R. Herndon noted that the recklessness of firing a shot outside of a rear window "[wa]s stunning." He then mentioned the recent incidents where children or other innocent people have been killed by stray bullets. After considering Seats’ criminal history, lack of remorse for the crime, and the facts of the instant offense, Judge Herndon labeled Seats a "narcissist," and noted that Seats "doesn’t care much about other people."

The case was investigated by the Belleville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.