Judge orders pre-trial detention for felon accused of handgun possession at Naperville Topgolf
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced on June 4 that Judge Joshua Dieden has granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a Cook County convicted felon currently on probation who is accused of illegally possessing a firearm. Jamon Roberts, 29, of Richton Park, appeared at First Appearance Court charged with one count of Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – Previous Felony Conviction (Class 2 Felony), one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon (Class 3 Felony), and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon – No FOID or CCL (Class 4 Felony).
According to authorities, on June 3 at approximately 7:30 p.m., Naperville Police Department officers on routine foot patrol in the Topgolf parking lot allegedly observed the handle of a firearm partially inside or underneath a crossbody bag on the driver's side floorboard of a white Volkswagen. Officers conducted surveillance until three occupants returned to the vehicle: Roberts and two females. It is alleged that Roberts entered the driver’s seat and was seated within arm’s reach of the firearm when an officer used his squad car to pin in the front of the Volkswagen. After all occupants exited, police recovered a loaded Glock 19, 9 mm firearm with one bullet in the chamber and fifteen rounds in the magazine from where it had been seen earlier.
"The Naperville Police Department and my office are one hundred percent committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who are not legally allowed to possess them," Berlin said. "In this case, as a convicted felon, Mr. Roberts is prohibited from legally owning a firearm. What I find particularly disturbing, however, are the allegations that he was illegally in possession of a loaded firearm at a family-friendly recreation facility. Public safety remains the top priority of my administration, and anyone accused of threatening public safety in DuPage County will quickly find themselves arrested, charged and prosecuted. I thank the Naperville Police Department whose proactive efforts allowed us to file weapons charges against an individual who was not legally allowed to own a weapon. I also thank Assistant State's Attorneys Robert Willis and Kelsy Kerr for their work in securing charges against Mr. Roberts and for their ongoing efforts in keeping DuPage County safe from violent criminals."
Arres said, "Every illegal firearm we take off the street is one less opportunity for violence in our community... The allegations in this case are particularly concerning because this loaded handgun was allegedly possessed by a convicted felon at a popular family-oriented entertainment venue frequented by residents and visitors alike... The Naperville Police Department remains committed to aggressively enforcing firearms laws and working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable while keeping our community safe... I want to thank State’s Attorney Berlin and his team for their continued partnership and commitment to pursuing justice on behalf of our community."
Roberts' next court appearance is scheduled for June 30 before Judge Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh.
Members of the public are reminded that these charges do not constitute proof; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The average student-to-teacher ratio across DuPage County schools during 2022-23 was thirteen-to-one among more than ten thousand full-time faculty members serving over one hundred forty-two thousand students; teacher absenteeism stood at thirty-eight point three percent compared with Illinois’ thirty-five point six percent average; York Community High School enrolled more white students than any other county school; Metea Valley High School led multiracial enrollment; Westmore Elementary had highest Pacific Islander enrollment; Addison Trail High School recorded most Hispanic students—all according to the Illinois State Board of Education.