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Aurora man convicted of being armed habitual criminal

An Aurora man with a history of violent and drug crimes will return to prison after being convicted Thursday as an armed habitual criminal.

Antwon L. Dismuke, 39, of the 1000 block of East New York Street, Aurora, was convicted by a Kane County jury of the Class X felony.

Circuit Judge Susan Clancy Boles set Dismuke's next court appearance for May 18, to set a sentencing date.

Dismuke faces a sentence of between six and 30 years.

Dismuke remains in the Kane County jail, where he has been held since his arrest in lieu of $200,000 bail. Illinois law defines an armed habitual criminal as someone who possesses a firearm after having been convicted of two or more forcible felonies and/or violations of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and/or Illinois Cannabis Control Act.

According to the Kane County state's attorney's office, on July 14, 2009, Dismuke was given a handgun that had been used the night before in a drive-by shooting. No one was injured in the shooting.

Dismuke was not allowed to have a gun because of a 1995 conviction for aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and 2001 conviction for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony. Both offenses took place in Kane County.

Dismuke served prison terms for both convictions.

"Mr. Dismuke continues to disregard the law with his insistence on possessing firearms after being told by the courts many times to end his criminal ways. This conviction shows that such conduct has no place in the city of Aurora or anywhere else. He belongs in prison," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said. "Thanks to Sgt. Rob Wallers and Inv. Steve Stemmet of the Aurora Police Department for their dedication and hard work in this case."

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