A reputed gang member has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of separate gun-related felonies, according to Lake County prosecutors.
Carnell Wesson, 31, who State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart called a “danger to the community,” was given the prison term during a hearing last week before Judge D. Christopher Lombardo.
Wesson was charged in March 2022 with being an armed habitual criminal after Zion police located two guns inside a vehicle in which Wesson was riding.
He was able to post a cash bond, and was on bail and awaiting trial when he was arrested in December 2022 on charges related to a Waukegan shooting, prosecutors said.
He was convicted in both cases and, at a sentencing hearing last week, prosecutors argued that the judge should impose consecutive sentences to safeguard the community. Lombardo agreed, and sentenced Wesson to 15 years in the Zion case and a consecutive 25-year prison term in the Waukegan shooting.
Under state law, Wesson will be required to serve 85% of his sentence, and will receive credit for 855 days already spent in custody.
“Our very experienced prosecutors continue to hold repeat gun offenders accountable through successful trials and sentencing hearings,” Rinehart said. “This offender, in particular, demonstrated his danger to the community while committing offenses after posting cash bail in 2022.”
