Lake Co. man gets jail for probation violation

A Park City man was sentenced to six months in jail Friday for violating his probation in a stolen gun case.

Louis Richardson, 28, will be released from jail only to go to work, attend school or participate in drug treatment.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Brett Henne said Richardson, of the 4100 block of Greenleaf Street, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm in July 2007.

Richardson had been an employee at a Gurnee package delivery service, Henne said, and on July 26, 2006 stole a .45 caliber handgun from a package bound for Winthrop Harbor.

Police were called when the empty gun box arrived at its destination and Richardson admitted he had taken the weapon.

He was placed on probation for three years and was ordered not to consume drugs or alcohol.

Richardson tested positive for marijuana use on March 29, 2009 and stopped reporting to his probation officer after doing so.

Henne asked Associate Judge George Bridges to sentence Richardson to up to seven years in prison, but Assistant Public Defender Latonya Burton argued for local jail time.

Bridges agreed to the local jail time, but warned Richardson that he was probably headed to prison if there are any further violations.