Elrico Donelson, 21, formerly of Danville, was sentenced on Tuesday to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by one year of mandatory supervised release after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
The People presented evidence that on May 21, 2024, an officer with the Danville Police Department observed a vehicle to be illegally parked. As law enforcement approached, some people in the area of the vehicle fled on foot. Donelson was observed by officers exiting the passenger side of the vehicle and he was the only individual observed to be in the vehicle at that time. A number of guns were recovered, including one personally possessed by Donelson. The defendant was also identified in various social media posts, which showed him in possession of the same gun.
The plea and sentencing hearing were presided over by Judge Mark S. Goodwin.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy, in a press release, expressed gratitude to the Danville Police Department for their diligent efforts in this case. She added, “repeat offenders with access to firearms are a direct threat to public safety. We will continue to work with our local police departments to take steps towards protecting our neighborhoods and preventing violent crime.”