Zion man admits to having stolen guns

A Zion man charged with stealing more than 50 guns from a gun shop in 2015 pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated possession of stolen firearms.

Lawrence Taylor, 19, is scheduled to be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated possession of stolen firearms, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman for the Lake County state's attorney's office.

Taylor also is required to give truthful testimony against who prosecutors call the co-conspirator, Clarence Williams Jr., also of Zion.

Taylor was facing up to 60 years in prison if convicted of the thefts that happened between 11 p.m. May 31 and 5 a.m. June 1, 2015, from 5 Star Firearms on the 41000 block of Sheridan Road in Beach Park.

Taylor and Williams were facing counts of possession of more than 50 stolen firearms and burglary. Taylor was also charged with possession of fewer than 10 stolen firearms after the weapons were recovered at his house and vehicle after a search warrant was issued, authorities said.

The street value of the stolen guns was about $30,000, officials said.

Authorities said Taylor, Williams and an unidentified juvenile went to the gun shop to steal the weapons. While Taylor and the juvenile served as lookouts, Williams entered the shop and stole firearms from the display cases and off the walls, authorities said.

After leaving the store, the three drove to Taylor's house, authorities said. They returned to the gun shop about five hours later, stole more weapons, then drove away, authorities said.

After their arrest, Taylor and Williams, who were identified as members of a street gang in Zion, told authorities they intended to keep most of the firearms to retaliate against Zion police for the officer-involved shooting death of Justus Howell, authorities said. However, authorities said there was no proof other than their statements.