Convicted felon faces weapons charges after being stopped for speeding

handcuffs

A two-time convicted felon currently out on bond out of DuPage County and on parole out of Cook County will be held on a $150,000 bond after he was allegedly found in possession of a loaded handgun.

Deontae McClain, 28, of the 900 block of Sacramento Boulevard, Chicago, appeared in DuPage County Bond Court Tuesday. He briefly appeared at a bond hearing Monday when a request to delay the hearing for a day to allow the defendant to obtain private counsel was granted.

McClain has been charged with one count of armed habitual criminal, one count of unlawful use of a weapon and several misdemeanor offenses, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

The state had asked for a bond of $500,000.

At approximately 4:54 a.m. on March 21, an Illinois State Police trooper pulled over a car, driven by McClain, for traveling 100 mph on Interstate 88 near Oak Brook. During the stop, the trooper allegedly discovered that McClain was driving on a suspended license, the release stated. McClain was taken into custody at this time.

The trooper searched McClain’s vehicle and allegedly found a loaded 9mm Barretta gun on the floor within arm’s reach of the defendant, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The gun allegedly had an extended magazine containing hollow-point bullets, according to the release.

“For the second time in as many weeks, my office has filed armed habitual criminal charges against an individual who is a two-time convicted felon currently out on bond accused of yet another felony,” DuPage Couny State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “In this case it is alleged that Mr. McClain, who is not only out on bond but is also out on parole, completely ignored the conditions of bond placed upon him and in doing so thumbed his nose at the rule of law.”

“The Illinois State Police takes gun violence, illegal firearms and those that possess firearms illegally extremely seriously,” said Illinois State Police Capt. Jason Bradley, District 15 commander. “We strive to make our roadways and communities a safer place and will continue our relentless pursuit to remove illegal guns and criminals from our communities.”

McClain’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 20 for arraignment.