Gun, drug charges lead to 15-year sentence for Aurora man

A 26-year-old Aurora man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday for dealing drugs and hiding a loaded gun under his child’s bed in early 2009.

Jose L. Cervantes of the 300 block of Westgate Drive, was sentenced by Judge T. Jordan Gallagher to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after being convicted of armed violence.

“This sentence should send the message that if you deal drugs while armed with a loaded gun, you will serve significant time in prison,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement.

On June 11, 2010, Cervantes was convicted by Gallagher in a bench trial of one count of armed violence, one count of unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, one count of unlawful possession of cannabis, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

The most serious charge of armed violence carried a 6- to 30-year sentence.

Aurora police on Feb. 6, 2009 executed a search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of Westgate Drive where Cervantes had been staying.

Cervantes was found in a bedroom rubbing cocaine into the carpet to try and hide it from police, official said.

And within arm’s reach of Cervantes, underneath a bed in which Cervantes’ 4-year-old child was sleeping, police found a loaded .357 Magnum revolver.

Police also found 450 grams of cannabis and Cervantes admitted to selling drugs.

Cervantes can get out in half the time for good behavior, and he also was given credit for two years he spent in jail since his arrest.