Update to something we discussed in Feb:
Trooper pleads guilty in gun case
By Greg Jonsson
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
07/26/2006
One of three Illinois State Police officers charged this year with illegally possessing submachine guns pleaded guilty Tuesday, authorities said.
Senior Master Trooper Greg Mugge, 52, of Jerseyville, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of an unregistered machine gun, according to federal prosecutors. Mugge, a 21-year veteran of the department who was assigned to District 18 in Litchfield, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27.
Mugge could not be reached Tuesday, and an attorney representing the trooper declined to comment on the plea, made in the federal district court in East St. Louis.
Mugge and two Illinois State Police officers from District 11 in Collinsville were placed on paid leave after they were charged earlier this year with having submachine guns at their homes. As Illinois State Police officers, they are allowed to handle submachine guns legally for their jobs, but they could not have them at home, according to prosecutors. Submachine guns fire a steady stream of bullets with a single squeeze of the trigger.
Mugge and the others, Sgt. James V. Vest of O'Fallon and Special Agent John Yard of Collinsville, had pleaded not guilty earlier this year. Another man, Dr. Harold Griffiths, 69, of Spaulding, Ill., was charged with lending one of the weapons to Yard, who said he fired it and gave it back to Griffiths, who then lived in Glen Carbon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF interviewed the officers in late December. At that time, according to court documents, Mugge admitted on videotape to possessing a Colt rifle that had been converted to function in a fully automatic mode. Mugge told the ATF that he had obtained the submachine gun in the late 1970s or early 1980s from a licensed dealer who is now dead, according to the court documents.
Mugge and the others voluntarily turned guns over to the ATF.
Mugge's gun was not registered, and the Illinois State Police had not authorized Mugge to possess the gun, the ATF said in court filings. The guns are legal for those who pass a background check, pay a fee and submit the proper forms.
In an unusual move, 10 Metro East police chiefs issued a letter in February urging leniency for the accused officers. Two state senators and two county sheriffs also signed the letter. They said 10 years in prison would be excessive punishment for law enforcement officers who had worked to make citizens safer.
Belleville Police Chief David Ruebhausen drafted the letter and said Tuesday he stands by what the letter says.
"I did not nor do I now condone illegal activity," he said. "My point is that sentencing these guys to prison does not protect the public nor does it serve the public. It would serve no purpose
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I wonder if the sheriffs, police chiefs, and senators would write a letter saying that Soybomb, the good law abiding citizens shouldn't be put in jail for 10 years because he harmed no one if I did the same thing.
Trooper pleads guilty in gun case
By Greg Jonsson
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
07/26/2006
One of three Illinois State Police officers charged this year with illegally possessing submachine guns pleaded guilty Tuesday, authorities said.
Senior Master Trooper Greg Mugge, 52, of Jerseyville, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of an unregistered machine gun, according to federal prosecutors. Mugge, a 21-year veteran of the department who was assigned to District 18 in Litchfield, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27.
Mugge could not be reached Tuesday, and an attorney representing the trooper declined to comment on the plea, made in the federal district court in East St. Louis.
Mugge and two Illinois State Police officers from District 11 in Collinsville were placed on paid leave after they were charged earlier this year with having submachine guns at their homes. As Illinois State Police officers, they are allowed to handle submachine guns legally for their jobs, but they could not have them at home, according to prosecutors. Submachine guns fire a steady stream of bullets with a single squeeze of the trigger.
Mugge and the others, Sgt. James V. Vest of O'Fallon and Special Agent John Yard of Collinsville, had pleaded not guilty earlier this year. Another man, Dr. Harold Griffiths, 69, of Spaulding, Ill., was charged with lending one of the weapons to Yard, who said he fired it and gave it back to Griffiths, who then lived in Glen Carbon.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF interviewed the officers in late December. At that time, according to court documents, Mugge admitted on videotape to possessing a Colt rifle that had been converted to function in a fully automatic mode. Mugge told the ATF that he had obtained the submachine gun in the late 1970s or early 1980s from a licensed dealer who is now dead, according to the court documents.
Mugge and the others voluntarily turned guns over to the ATF.
Mugge's gun was not registered, and the Illinois State Police had not authorized Mugge to possess the gun, the ATF said in court filings. The guns are legal for those who pass a background check, pay a fee and submit the proper forms.
In an unusual move, 10 Metro East police chiefs issued a letter in February urging leniency for the accused officers. Two state senators and two county sheriffs also signed the letter. They said 10 years in prison would be excessive punishment for law enforcement officers who had worked to make citizens safer.
Belleville Police Chief David Ruebhausen drafted the letter and said Tuesday he stands by what the letter says.
"I did not nor do I now condone illegal activity," he said. "My point is that sentencing these guys to prison does not protect the public nor does it serve the public. It would serve no purpose
--------------------------------------------------
I wonder if the sheriffs, police chiefs, and senators would write a letter saying that Soybomb, the good law abiding citizens shouldn't be put in jail for 10 years because he harmed no one if I did the same thing.