In observance of the Presidents Day holiday, the Northwest Herald newspaper will not be published February 18.
A man on Thursday accepted an eight-year prison sentence in connection with 18 firearms that reportedly were stolen from a Johnsburg home in June.
Mitchell W. Kirksey, 32, accepted an offer from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a Class X felony charge of possession of stolen firearms.
Kirksey of Johnsburg must serve at least 50 percent of the sentence, McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather said. He will receive credit for time already spent in the county jail.
In exchange for Kirksey’s guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss additional charges, including several counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Kirksey and another woman, 33-year-old Vanessa McGehee-Stapleton, were accused of stealing 18 firearms and cash June 19 from another resident at their home in the 1800 block of Grandview Drive, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court.
Until her arrest Tuesday, McGehee-Stapleton was wanted on a warrant issued in July, records show.
The stolen weapons included several .38-caliber and 9 mm semi-automatic pistols as well as revolvers, according to a criminal complaint filed in connection with Kirksey’s arrest.
Kirksey originally faced additional charges based on a previous conviction that prohibited him from having firearms, public records show.
