Elgin gang member arrested on weapons charge

An Elgin gang member who was on parole for a 2011 weapons offense was arrested Sunday on domestic violence charges and another weapons offense, according to Elgin police.

Miguel Covarrubias, 22, of the 1600 block of Maple Lane, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a street gang member, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of misdemeanor battery.

According to an Elgin police report, authorities were called at 6:32 p.m. to the 100 block of Jane Street after Covarrubias stopped his car and threw his girlfriend, who also is the mother of their two children, on the ground.

A witnessed yelled out to see if the woman was OK and Covarrubias then ran way, the report said. Police found a .25 caliber silver semiautomatic handgun in Covarrubias’s car that the woman also said fell out of his jacket while the two were arguing in the car.

He denied to police that the gun was his, the report said.

According to Kane County court records and Elgin police, Covarrubias was on parole for a May 2011 weapons offense for which he was sentenced to four years in prison. However, through good behavior and 235 days credit in jail, his sentence was reduced.

He also was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to felony mob action from an August 2010 incident in Elgin, records show. Covarrubias also spent five days in jail and was sentenced to 100 hours community service for a marijuana arrest in Elgin in March 2010.

Kane County Judge Alice Tracy on Monday set Covarrubias’ bond at $300,000, meaning he must post $30,000 to be released while the case is pending

He is next due in court on Nov. 1 and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.