Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato announced today that on July 2, 2009 38 year old Andre Friar was sentenced by Judge Gary V. Pumilia to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of Residential Burglary and 5 years for the offense of Possession of a Stolen Firearm the sentences will be served concurrently.

On June 17, 2008 Winnebago County Sheriffs Police took a residential burglary report regarding a residence located in Southwest Rockford. During the investigation the deputies developed a description of the suspect’s vehicle. Two suspects had been seen running from the scene to a vehicle. Deputies later spotted the vehicle near the neighborhood where the crime was committed, and conducted a traffic stop. Items matching the description of the stolen property were in plain view and after a search of the vehicle the Deputies discovered the stolen handgun in the glove box. Witnesses identified the defendant as an individual leaving the scene. The defendant was found guilty of these offenses by a jury on June 4, 2009.

Residential Burglary is a class 1 felony that has a sentencing range of 4-15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Possession of a Stolen Firearm is a class 2 felony that has a sentencing range of 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.