ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- A Rockford man has been sentenced to 77 months in prison without parole for illegal possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

In February, 27-year-old Jeffrey Lottie was a passenger in a car being driven by his girlfriend on West State Street in Rockford. A Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy on patrol stopped the car for a traffic violation.

Lottie admitted he place a loaded highpoint .45 caliber gun in his girlfriend's purse on the back seat of the car which was later seen by the deputy.