Former Centreville Firefighter Guilty Of Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

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A former firefighter for the Church Road Fire Protection District in Centreville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on November 24, 2014, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Derrick N. Henry, 44, of Alorton, Illinois, pled guilty to possessing firearms while he was serving a state sentence of intensive probation resulting from a domestic violence conviction.

Court documents revealed that on March 7, 2014, at approximately 7:00 AM, the St. Clair County Probation Department conducted a compliance check of high-risk probationers who were serving terms of intensive probation for state-court criminal violations. A St. Clair County probation officer was assigned to go to Derrick Henry’s home to verify whether Henry was complying with the terms of his intensive probation. The probation officer conducted a search of the residence and found five long guns (rifles and shotguns) in plain view leaning against the corner of the wall immediately adjacent to the door of a locked bedroom. Four of the weapons were unloaded, but one of the .22 caliber rifles was loaded with a magazine and had a live round in the chamber. Additional ammunition was found inside of the home. Henry denied knowing that the guns were in the locked room, however, the key to the door was found inside of Henry’s pants pocket.

Unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by not more than 10 years in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, or both, and not more than three years of supervised release. However, the United States Sentencing Guidelines must be applied to the case and considered by the Court during sentencing. Henry will be sentenced on March 7, 2015.

The investigation was conducted by a probation compliance task force including agents from the Illinois State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, St. Clair County State’s Attorney, Marissa Police Department, Southwestern Illinois College Police Department, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Police Department, Millstadt Police Department, and the St. Clair County Probation Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hallock.