Police seize rifle, ammunition from Elgin felon after domestic call

A 39-year-old Elgin man is being held on $100,000 bail after his arrest on charges of aggravated domestic battery and being an armed habitual criminal after a case in late June in which police seized a rifle and assorted ammunition.

In addition to those charges, James E. Scott, of the 500 block of North Crystal Avenue, faces two felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm without a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card and domestic battery with previous convictions, according to an Elgin police report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and Kane County court records.

Scott also is charged with two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery, resisting arrest and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence, also misdemeanors, records show.

According to a police report, officers were called at 2:05 a.m. June 25 to the 500 block of North Crystal for two people fighting. Scott answered the door, gave police a fake name for a woman inside and said she could talk to them but not leave the apartment, police said.

The woman, who dated Scott for 14 years, was eventually allowed to speak to officers outside and said she and Scott began arguing the previous night around 8 or 9 p.m. and it became physical, with him slapping her twice in the face and pushing her to ground, according to the report.

At one point, Scott entered a bedroom holding a rifle and threatened to kill her, the report said.

Officers saw a bruise under the woman's right eye and she said Scott, a felon, might have additional guns in the apartment, according to the report. Officers found a loaded .22-caliber Remington 597 long rifle, a magazine with eight .22-caliber rounds inside it, 24 rounds of .38-special ammunition and a 9 mm magazine, according to the report.

"(The victim) wanted officers to take custody of the firearms because she was concerned for her safety," the reports said, and

Scott denied hitting the woman.

According to charging documents, Scott has convictions for two previous, forcible felonies: unlawful use of a weapon and murder. Additional information about either case was not immediately available.

Scott must post $10,000 in order to be released from the Kane County jail while the case is pending.

If he does post bond, Scott is to have no contact with the victim and no entry into the apartment.

Scott is next due in court on Aug. 5 and if convicted of the most severe charge, he faces a sentence ranging from six to 30 years in prison.