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Former Waukegan basketball star gets probation on gun charge

A former Waukegan High School basketball standout was placed on probation for 18 months Monday after he admitted he was in a car that had a gun inside.

Jereme Richmond, 19, pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips.

Assistant State's Attorney James Newman said Richmond was a passenger in a car parked outside Richmond's girlfriend's house in Waukegan on Aug. 8.

Richmond and the female had argued the day before, police said, and he had been charged with aggravated battery for striking her during the argument.

The following day, Richmond was outside the car parked in front of the female's house arguing with her and her father when Waukegan police were called.

When police arrived, they found a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun in the car and arrested Richmond and Matthew Riley, 22, of North Chicago.

Newman said no one claimed Richmond ever had the gun in his hands when he was outside the female's house, but he was guilty of possessing it simply because it was in the car.

The aggravated battery charge against Richmond from the Aug. 7 incident was dropped in exchange for his guilty plea.

Phillips also ordered Richmond to perform 200 hours of public service, pay a $500 fine and contribute $250 to the domestic violence shelter A Safe Place.

Richmond must also complete any counseling for substance abuse, anger management or domestic violence that his probation officer recommends.

After his graduation from Waukegan High School, Richmond went on to play for the University of Illinois.

He dropped out of school after his freshman year to enter the NBA draft, but no professional team selected him.

Riley has pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a weapon and is due to appear in court Feb. 27.

Newman said Richmond could have been sentenced to up to three years in prison if convicted after a trial.

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