Bail was denied Friday for a felon charged with possessing a loaded ghost gun and illegal drugs, which were discovered when he was pulled over this week by Naperville police.
This is the second time this week and the seventh time in a month that a DuPage County judge has denied bail for a defendant accused of serious crimes, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a news release.
“To be blunt, the message coming from DuPage County is crystal clear: Felons who illegally possess a gun will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
Eugene Williams, 34, of the 14000 block of Maryland Avenue, Dolton, was charged with one count each of armed habitual criminal, armed violence and possession with intent to deliver methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA and also known as ecstasy, the release said. All are class X felonies.
He also was charged with possession of heroin with intent to deliver, a class 1 felony; unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, a class 2 felony; and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a class 3 felony.
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Williams had been out on bond while awaiting trial on charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres, speaking in the release, said Thursday’s traffic stop was the second time this year his department has arrested Williams for unlawful possession of a firearm and other serious charges.
“Our department is committed to keeping this town safe, and our officers will not stop proactively patrolling this city, making traffic stops and taking dangerous people and weapons off our streets,” Arres said.
According to the release, a Naperville officer pulled over a vehicle with tinted windows Thursday after the driver allegedly failed to signal when changing lanes.
As the officer approached the vehicle, he observed the driver, later identified as Williams, allegedly moving about the front interior of the car and smelled a strong odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle, the report said.
In searching the vehicle, the officer said he found a backpack in the front seat containing a loaded Polymer 80 9 mm pistol, also known as a ghost gun; 34 pills of ecstasy; about one gram of heroin and about 140 grams of cannabis.
Williams’ next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 1.