Judge denies pre-trial release for Joliet man charged with illegal firearm possession

Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for D Ante Hence, a 36-year-old Joliet resident, who is accused of illegally possessing a loaded firearm, according to an announcement by DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean on June 8. Hence appeared in First Appearance Court this weekend facing one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 3 Felony), one count of Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – No FOID Card (Class 4 Felony), two counts of Misdemeanor DUI, one count of Misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Cannabis by Driver, and several petty traffic offenses including Transportation of Open Alcohol by Driver and Stopping, Parking or Standing on Roadway.

According to authorities, at approximately 1:10 a.m. on June 6 in the area of North Avenue and Route 83, Elmhurst Police officers found Hence allegedly passed out behind the wheel while his vehicle was stopped in a lane of traffic. Officers reported seeing a gun in plain view on the passenger seat near Hence’s hand as well as open alcohol and cannabis in the center console. After waking him, police secured what they described as a fully loaded SCCY CPX-2 9 mm handgun with fourteen rounds in the magazine and one bullet chambered. It is further alleged that Hence’s blood alcohol content was .19.

"It is alleged that Mr. Hence, a convicted felon, was illegally in possession of a loaded handgun while drunk in his car," Berlin said. "As a convicted felon, Mr. Hence has forfeited his right to possess a firearm and the allegations that he was behind the wheel of his car after he had been drinking while armed with a loaded weapon will not be tolerated in DuPage County. I thank the Elmhurst Police Department for their heads-up work on this case that allegedly took a dangerous weapon out of the hands of a convicted felon. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelsey Kerr and Michael Pingaj for their work in preparing a strong case against Mr. Hence."

Chief McLean said, "The swift and decisive actions of our officers led to the safe apprehension of a dangerous individual armed with a loaded handgun and driving under the influence. Drunk driving poses a serious threat to everyone on our roads, and when combined with illegal weapons, the risks are even greater. Our officers’ professionalism and dedication continue to keep our community safe, and we remain committed to protecting the public from those who endanger others. I thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his staff for their continued support to hold criminal offenders accountable in DuPage County."

Hence's next court appearance is scheduled for June 29 before Judge Daniel Guerin for arraignment.

Members of the public are reminded that these charges are not proof of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

DuPage County schools reported an average student-to-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year among its more than 142,000 students enrolled across county schools; teacher absenteeism stood at about 38 percent compared with Illinois' average rate according to the Illinois State Board of Education.