(Lake County, IL) On Friday, December 13, 2024, a Lake County Judge sentenced Carnell Wesson, 31, to 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following his convictions for two different incidents related to weapon offenses. 

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart stated, “Our very experienced prosecutors continue to hold repeat gun offenders accountable through successful trials and sentencing hearings. This offender, in particular, demonstrated his danger to the community while committing offenses after posting cash bail in 2022. Our police partners throughout Lake County are continuing to do an excellent job of solving shootings and making arrests for illegal weapon possession.”  

Originally, Wesson was arrested in March 2022, for the Class X offense of being an Armed Habitual Criminal, after Zion police located two firearms in a vehicle that Wesson was passenger in. Wesson was held in the Lake County Jail until September 2022, when he posted 10% of his $150,000 bond and was released. This was prior to the effective date of bail reform which now prevents individuals charged with firearm offenses from posting bond if a judge so decides at the beginning of the case. 

While out on the $15,000 bond, Wesson was arrested for committing the Class 1 offense of Aggravated Discharge of Weapon and, again, the Class X offense of being an Armed Habitual Criminal for a shooting that occurred in December 2022.  

After a jury trial concluded in September 2023, Wesson was convicted of the offense of Armed Habitual Criminal for the March 2022 incident. In October 2024, a second jury convicted the Defendant for the offense of Armed Habitual Criminal in connection with the December 2022 incident.  

At the sentencing, Judge Lombardo considered evidence in aggravation from two State witnesses, one of whom described a violent altercation involving Wesson and another inmate while in custody. The second witness testified to Wesson's affiliation with a street gang. 

Chief Deputy Jeff Facklam and ASA Don Tyer argued to Judge Lombardo that Wesson was the epitome of a danger to Lake County and that Wesson’s sentences for the two separate incidents needed to be consecutive to protect our community. Prosecutors further noted that his dangerous behavior is evident through his lengthy criminal history and through his gang affiliation. They asked Wesson to be sentenced to somewhere between 30 and 40 years combined for both offenses.  

Judge Lombardo concurred, ruling that consecutive sentences were necessary to keep our community safe and sentenced Wesson to 15 years for the March 2022 incident, and 25 years for the December 2022 incident, resulting in a total of 40 years. Wesson received 855 days credit for time served. This forty-year sentence will be served at 85% 

Sentencing laws allowed Judge Lombardo to sentence Wesson to a range of 6 to 30 years for each offense, a combined sentencing range of 12 to 60 years.