Rockford man sentenced to prison for gun possession
A 21-year-old Rockford man with two recent burglary convictions was sentenced to prison Tuesday on a weapons charge. Edward Vega, whose status as a felon prevents him from possessing a gun, pleaded guilty to firearm possession by a felon, court records show. In exchange for his guilty plea, Vega was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay $734 in fines, according to court records.
He received credit for the 178 days he has been in custody since his arrest.
Prosecutors say Vega was riding in a car that a Hanover Park officer stopped last April for having no front license plate and only one headlight. The officer recovered a revolver wrapped in some clothing from a rear passenger seat behind where Vega was sitting, prosecutors said.
Vega, who was convicted of burglary in 2015 and 2013, admitted the weapon was his, prosecutors said.