Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Judge Leah Bendik granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for an Addison man currently on parole who was allegedly found in possession of a loaded machine gun. Edgar Martinez, 29, of the 800 block of S. Addison Road, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Machine Gun (Class X Felony), two counts of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), one count of Resisting a Police Officer Causing Injury (Class 4 Felony), one count of Possession with Intent to Deliver Cannabis (Class 3 Felony), and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony).

On June 27, 2024, at approximately 11:10 a.m., the United States Marshals Service was conducting surveillance on an apartment located in the 800 block of S. Addison Road regarding parolee Edgar Martinez, who had failed to contact his parole officer. Martinez is currently on parole for second-degree murder. It is alleged that while surveilling the apartment, agents observed a man, later identified as Martinez, exit the apartment with a black backpack and get into an Uber. Agents stopped the Uber a short distance later at which time Martinez allegedly attempted to flee on foot, leaving the backpack behind in the Uber. Martinez was immediately apprehended by the agents.

It is alleged that Martinez was combative and fought with the agents, injuring one agent's elbow and head. It is further alleged that inside Martinez’s backpack agents located a loaded Glock 17 9mm handgun with an extended magazine containing twenty-four rounds and a switch that allowed the weapon to be fired in fully automatic mode as well as approximately 270 grams of cannabis, fifty-five grams of cannabis flower, and twenty-five grams of cocaine.

“The allegation that Mr. Martinez, who is currently on parole for second-degree murder and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm, was in possession of a loaded weapon that had been modified to fire as a fully automatic weapon is extremely concerning,” Berlin said. “Public safety is a collaborative effort between local, state and federal authorities. I commend the U.S. Marshals Service for their efforts in this matter which resulted in removing an extremely dangerous weapon from our streets. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Adam Frahm and Denis Cahill for their work in securing charges against Mr. Martinez.”

Martinez’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 22, 2024, for arraignment in front of Judge Brian Telander.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.