Repeat offender gets seven-year sentence in Morgan County gun case

A 22-year-old Springfield man with prior robbery convictions in Sangamon County was sentenced to seven years in prison in Morgan County court after prosecutors said he brandished a gun at a victim in early March.

Jacorrunta Robinson received the sentence on April 14 for possession of a firearm by a felon. The case began after Robinson was arrested March 3, when police said he sideswiped a vehicle at Independence Street and Main Street and then fled. That traffic stop led officers into a case that later centered on the allegation that Robinson had threatened a victim with a gun.

Robinson’s criminal history weighed heavily in the outcome. He had earlier been convicted on two robbery counts in Sangamon County, and Illinois law treats unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender as a Class X felony. Under state sentencing rules, that offense carries a prison term of six to 30 years, putting Robinson’s seven-year sentence near the low end of the range but still firmly in state prison territory.

The sentence also carries a substantial release restriction. Illinois Department of Corrections rules say determinate sentences can require an offender to serve 50%, 75%, 85% or 100% of the term, depending on the offense. In Robinson’s case, the court applied the 85% rule, meaning he must serve most of the sentence before he becomes eligible for release.

Along with the prison term, the court ordered Robinson to pay a $500 fine and $549 in court costs. For Morgan County, the case underscores how quickly a local disturbance can become a serious gun prosecution when a fleeing suspect is found to be armed and already has a violent felony record.

It also highlights the kind of cases now moving through the county courthouse, where officials continue to handle gun offenses tied to repeat offenders from across west-central Illinois, not just Jacksonville. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office says it has 14 sworn deputies responsible for traffic and criminal law enforcement, a reminder of how often a roadside encounter can be the first step in a broader public-safety case. The Morgan County State’s Attorney’s Office says its victim-witness coordinator can provide case-status and support information as the county continues dealing with firearm cases involving repeat offenders.