WICHITA, KS—A Lyons, Kan., man has pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in Arlington, Kan., with a sawed-off shotgun, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Jacob W. Schrock, 27, Lyons, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In his plea, he admitted that on Sept. 13, 2011, he robbed the Citizen’s Community Bank in Arlington. He walked into the bank about 10:45 a.m. carrying a sawed-off shotgun and wearing a cowboy hat, sunglasses, vest, and blue bandana covering his face.

Schrock was arrested less than half an hour later when a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper pulled him over on Salem Road near Highway 50 in Reno County.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 27. He faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and not more than life and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.

Lyons Man Pleads Guilty in Reno County Bank Robbery | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

PEORIA, Ill., March 11, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The ISRA is pleased to announce that it has secured a temporary restraining order against the release of personal information belonging to persons holding Illinois Firearm Owner Identification cards (FOID).  The ISRA and four additional plaintiffs filed for the temporary restraining order after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that her office believes that release of FOID information to the public is proper under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.  The ISRA is very concerned that public release of personal information from the FOID database will jeopardize the safety of law-abiding firearm owners.

The temporary restraining order was granted by judge Scott Shore of the 10th Judicial District, Peoria County.  Judge Shore has scheduled a status call for March 15th, at which time a date will be set for hearing arguments regarding the issuance of a preliminary injunction.

“Law-abiding Illinois firearm owners can breathe a little easier today,” commented ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson.  ”Judge Shore’s order will prevent the Illinois State Police from releasing personal information on FOID holders to news organizations, gun control groups, gangs, and other criminals.  We are confident that we will eventually secure a permanent injunction against the release of FOID data.”

The ISRA is the state’s leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearm ownership.  For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

http://www.isra.org

SOURCE Illinois State Rifle Association

http://www.isra.org

Illinois State Rifle Association Secures Temporary Restraining Order Against Release of Firearm Owners’ Personal Information | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Deer hunting continues with archery and upcoming gun seasons

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 98,700 deer during the seven-day firearm deer season on Nov. 19-21 and Dec. 2-5, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today.

A total of 99,419 deer were taken during the 2009 firearm season.

The preliminary second-season (Dec. 2-5) harvest total was 30,663, compared with the 33,293 deer taken by hunters during the second segment of the season in 2009.

This year’s preliminary first-season (Nov. 19-22) deer harvest was 68,037, compared with a first-season harvest of 66,126 in 2009.

The preliminary harvest totals include deer taken in all counties in which firearm deer hunting is permitted, as well as at Chain O’Lakes State Park in Lake County.

“Harvest results for this year’s firearm deer seasons were remarkably similar to last year,” said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton.  “Fifty-one counties saw increases in harvest, while 49 counties declined.  Management efforts aimed at controlling deer herds while maintaining recreational opportunities are paying off.”

Preliminary reports show that Pike County once again topped the county deer harvest totals for the firearm season as hunters took 3,130 deer.  Other top county harvest totals were Fulton (2,495), Adams (2,468), Jo Daviess (2,285) and Randolph (2,192).

Deer hunters in Illinois still have opportunities to take to the field in the coming weeks.  The archery deer season continues through Jan. 16, 2011.  The three-day Illinois muzzleloader-only deer season is this week (Dec. 10-12), while the seven-day split late-winter firearm antlerless-only deer season and special CWD deer season are Dec. 30, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011 and Jan. 14-16, 2011.

Permits for both late-winter and special CWD seasons will be available over the counter through DNR Direct license and permit agents beginning Dec. 14.

Permits for the late-winter season will be issued in two categories based on deer management needs in individual counties.  For 12 select counties with a need for significant increases in deer harvest, hunters will be able to purchase late-winter permits without limit.  In 58 other counties open for the late-winter season, hunters will be limited to purchasing one late-winter deer permit.  There are 27 counties closed for the late-winter season.

As in years past, unfilled 2010 firearm, muzzleloader, youth and landowner firearm permits will be valid for the late-winter season provided that they were issued for an open county, but only antlerless deer may be taken.

For more information, please visit http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/ResidentLateWinterAntlerlessDeerHunting.aspx.

Successful hunters should report their harvest by 10 p.m. on the same calendar day the deer was taken by calling 1-866-452-4325 (1-866-ILCHECK) or by accessing the online check-in system at www.dnr.state.il.us/vcheck.

Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, McHenry and Winnebago Counties and a portion of Kane County west of IL Rt. 47 can participate in the seven-day special CWD deer season on Dec. 30, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011 and Jan. 14-16, 2011 to help control deer densities and the spread of chronic wasting disease.  Special CWD season antlerless-only permits will be available beginning Dec. 14 over the counter for $5.50 each at participating DNR Direct license and permit vendors.

In addition, hunters with unfilled 2010 firearm, muzzleloader, youth firearm deer season or archery deer permits valid for one of the open counties may use those permits to hunt during the CWD season.

Hunters using unfilled permits from the 20010 firearm, muzzleloader, youth or archery season for the CWD hunt may take deer appropriate for that permit (antlerless-only or either-sex).  There will be no manned check stations during CWD season.

As in the late-winter season, harvest must be reported via telephone or online.  Successful hunters are encouraged to have any adult deer tested for CWD by taking it to a cooperating meat processor.

The table below includes preliminary county harvest totals for the first and second portions of the 2010 firearm deer season, the preliminary total firearm harvest for 2010 and county harvest totals for 2009.

Hunters in Illinois Harvest 98,700 Deer During Firearm Season | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Dylan Petersen was arrested late Friday after police executed a search warrant at his home on the 400 block of South Street, recovering a handgun and ammunition, police said.

He was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm by a street gang member and no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification.

Police said Petersen had opened fire Jan. 7 at a house on the near-east side. No one was hurt.

In addition to arresting Petersen, police cited four juveniles for underage drinking and located a juvenile runaway from Carpentersville while searching his home, Swoboda said.

Petersen, whose next court date is Feb. 23, was being held Monday in the Kane County jail on $200,000 bond.

He could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the most serious offense.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Elgin man charged in shooting | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Deer hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 99,419 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season on Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6.  The preliminary harvest total compares with 105,595 deer taken by hunters during the 2008 firearm season.

The preliminary second-season (Dec. 3-6) harvest total was 33,293, compared with the 33,701 deer taken by hunters during the second segment of the season in 2008. This year’s preliminary first-season (Nov. 20-22) deer harvest was 66,126, compared with a first-season harvest of 71,894 in 2008.

The preliminary harvest totals include deer taken in all counties in which firearm deer hunting is permitted, as well as Chain O’Lakes State Park in Lake County.

“Harvest during the second season was nearly identical to last year,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton.

“We did experience a slow start during the first firearm season.  However, there are still plenty of hunting opportunities for hunters with Muzzleloader season and an expanded archery and Late-Winter firearm season.”

Preliminary reports show that Pike County once again topped the county deer harvest totals for the firearm season as hunters there took 3,265 deer.

Other top county harvest totals were Fulton (2,616), Adams (2,480), Jefferson (2,379), Jo Daviess (2,281), Randolph (2,256), and Jackson (2,153).

Hunters still have the opportunity to harvest deer in Illinois during remaining gun seasons and the rest of the 2009-2010 archery deer season.

The three-day Illinois muzzleloader-only deer season is this week (Dec. 11-13), while the expanded seven-day split Late-Winter Firearm Antlerless-only Deer Season and Special CWD Deer Season are Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010 and Jan. 15-17, 2010.

The statewide archery deer hunting season continues through Jan. 17, 2010.

Permits for both the Late-Winter and Special CWD seasons will be available over the counter through DNR Direct license and permit agents beginning Dec. 15.

Permits for the Late-Winter season will be issued in two categories, based on deer management needs in individual counties.  In 11 select counties with a need for significant increases in deer harvest, hunters will be able to purchase Late-Winter permits without limit.

In 59 other counties open for the Late-Winter season, hunters will be limited to purchasing one Late-Winter deer permit. As in years past, unfilled 2009 firearm, muzzleloader, youth, and landowner firearm permits will be valid for this season provided that they were issued for an open county, but only antlerless deer may be taken.

A list of counties that are open (and the permit limit for those counties) and closed for the Late-Winter season for 2009-2010 is available on the IDNR Web site at this link: dnr.state.il.us/admin/pdf/latewintercountieslist.pdf.

Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, and Winnebago counties and that portion of Kane County west of Ill. Rt. 47 can participate in the seven-day Special CWD Deer Season on Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010 and Jan. 15-17, 2010 to help control deer densities and the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Special CWD season antlerless-only permits will be available beginning Dec. 15 over the counter for $5 each at participating DNR Direct license and permit vendors.

In addition, hunters with unfilled 2009 firearm, muzzleloader, youth deer hunt, or archery deer permits valid for one of the open counties may use those permits to hunt during the CWD season.

Hunters using unfilled permits from the 2009 firearm, muzzleloader, youth, or archery season for the CWD hunt may take deer appropriate for that permit (antlerless-only or either-sex).

There will be no manned check stations during CWD season this year.

Successful hunters should report their harvest by 10 p.m. on the same calendar day the deer was taken by calling the toll-free telephone check-in system at 1-866-452-4325 (1-866-ILCHECK) or by accessing the online check-in system at dnr.state.il.us/vcheck.

Successful hunters are encouraged to have any adult deer tested for CWD by taking it to a cooperating meat processor.

The table below includes preliminary county harvest totals for the first and second portions of the 2009 firearm deer season, the preliminary total firearm harvest for 2009, and the comparable county harvest totals for 2008.

Illinois Firearm Deer Season 2009 Preliminary Harvest Totals 99,419 Deer | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Darris Hyte, 31, who last resided at 1209 Sairwood Dr., Elgin, was sentenced yesterday in Federal Court. Because he possessed a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, Hyte faced a mandatory minimum of five years up to life in federal prison under federal law.

Hyte was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Coar in U.S. District Court in Chicago on November 5, said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

According to court documents, on June 23, 2008, in Elgin, Hyte possessed 31.5 grams of crack cocaine, which he intended to distribute. Along with the crack cocaine, Hyte also had a loaded .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number.

Hyte admitted that he possessed the firearm in order to protect his distribution of crack cocaine. According to court filings, Hyte was considered a career offender under federal sentencing guidelines based on two prior drug trafficking convictions.

As a career offender, Hyte faced a heightened sentencing guideline range.

Hyte was indicted in October 2008 and pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense on June 11, 2009.

In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, Judge Coar imposed a term of five years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Elgin Police Department and the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Initiative.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution.

The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hauser.

MEDIA CONTACT:

United States Attorney’s Office, 312-353-5300
Northern District of Illinois

Elgin Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Possession of a Handgun and Crack Cocaine | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Deer hunting is part of our outdoor heritage in Illinois, and we want to encourage all hunters heading to the field this week for the start of the firearm season to make safety their first priority,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller.

“Hunters always need to be conscious of firearm and tree stand safety to ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt.”

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 106,018 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season in 2008.  More than 360,000 permits have been issued to date for the 2009 firearm season.

For information on remaining permits, check the IDNR Web site at dnr.state.il.us/admin/firearm.htm

The legal hunting hours for the firearm deer season are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Hunters successful in taking a deer during the firearm season in most counties must register (check in) the deer they harvest by going online at dnr.state.il.us/vcheck or by phoning 1-866-IL-CHECK (1-866-452-4325).

Hunters using the online or phone-in system must register their harvest by 10 p.m. on the day they take the deer.

It is recommended that hunters using cell phones to register their harvest wait until they are out of the field and have a clear cell phone signal before attempting to make the harvest report phone call.

Firearm deer hunters in Boone, DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, LaSalle, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties are reminded to bring their deer to mandatory check stations.

Biologists will be sampling adult deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD), to determine areas of infection and prevalence rates.

The check station locations are listed below (Note:  except for Winnebago County, they are in the same locations as last year):

• Boone:  Boone Co. Fairgrounds, located one-half mile north of Rt. 76 and Business Rt. 20, Belvidere
• DeKalb:  Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona
• Grundy:  Gebhard Woods State Park; 401 Ottawa St., Morris
• Kane:  Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona
• LaSalle:  Buffalo Rock State Park, three miles west of Ottawa on Dee Bennett Rd.
• McHenry:  Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry Dam day use area, east of McHenry on
  River Road, 2.2 miles south of Rt. 120
• Ogle:  Castle Rock State Park, Rt. 2, three miles south of Oregon
• Stephenson:  Stephenson Co. Fairgrounds, one mile east of Rt. 26 and Fairgrounds Road, Freeport
• Winnebago (NEW LOCATION): Rock Cut State Park (hunters should utilize the Hwy 173 entrance and follow the signs)

Hunters who participate in the CWD sampling can check the status of their deer through the IDNR Web site at dnr.state.il.us/cwd. Hunters who provide samples from deer that test positive are notified by the IDNR.

While not believed to be contagious to humans or livestock, chronic wasting disease is known to spread from animal to animal among deer and elk.

The disease affects the brain of the infected animal, causing them to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose coordination and eventually die.

Illinois expanded its CWD surveillance effort in 2002 following the discovery of the disease in neighboring Wisconsin.

For more information on Illinois deer hunting regulations changes for 2009-2010, check the IDNR Web site at this link: dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2009/September/deer.html

Hunting Safety Facts:

• Illinois law requires that anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, must successfully complete a hunter safety course before a regular Illinois hunting license is issued.
• The number one cause of hunting accidents in Illinois is falling from a tree stand.
• Last year in Illinois, there were 38 reported hunting accidents; 30 were the result of tree stand falls and five of those resulted in fatalities. So far during 2009, there have been 13 reported hunting accidents in Illinois, of which six have involved falls from tree stands.

When using a tree stand, remember the following:

• Check ladder stands before you climb to make sure they are secure.
• Wear a Fall Arrest System/Full Body Safety Harness the moment you leave the ground until you return.
• Use a haul line to raise an unloaded firearm or bow into a stand.

When hunting with a firearm, sportsmen should remember three primary rules of firearm safety:

• Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
• Know your target and what is beyond your target.

Illinois Firearm Deer Season Begins This Week; Hunters Reminded of Deer Check-In Requirements | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.