BENTON - A 44-year-old Herrin man - Bobby A. Commons, a/k/a "Blood" - has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The announcement was made Sunday by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce.
The indictment alleges the offense occurred on Nov. 22, 2017, in Williamson County. Commons made his initial appearance in federal court on Feb. 2, 2018. He was being held without bond.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The firearm offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Herrin Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Williamson County States Attorney's Office also assisted in the investigation.
