Convicted felon gets 18 years for crimes in Wheaton, including violent home invasion

Timothy Jackson, 32.

A Villa Park man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Tuesday for convictions in two unrelated cases involving firearm possession and a violent home invasion in Wheaton.

What we know:

Timothy Jackson, 32, a convicted felon, appeared at a hearing Tuesday afternoon where Judge Margaret O'Connnell handed down the sentence. The sentencing comes after Jackson was found guilty in two separate trials in 2024.

On Dec. 11, following a day-long bench trial, Jackson was convicted of two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon related to an incident at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Wheaton in 2020.

A jury also found Jackson guilty on July 26, 2024 of aggravated unlawful restraint and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon related to a violent home invasion in Wheaton in 2021.

The backstory:

Jackson was inside a 7-Eleven convenience store in Wheaton on Jan. 8, 2020 when he was found to be in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm pistol. Jackson was charged, but was later released from custody after he posted the necessary 10% of his $75,000 bond.

While out on bond, Jackson broke into the home of his former girlfriend in the 700 block of West Childs Street on Oct. 22, 2021, and held the woman at gunpoint while threatening to kill her. Jackson fled the scene before Wheaton police officers arrived.

During the investigation, police discovered Jackson was staying at a residence in Wheeling, and on Dec. 17, 2021, they saw him leave the home in a vehicle. As the vehicle was parked at a gas station, detectives took Jackson into custody following a brief foot chase.

What they're saying:

"Mr. Jackson is a convicted felon and as such has forfeited his right to ever legally possess a firearm," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin. "The fact that Mr. Jackson continued to illegally possess a weapon, even while out on bond for unlawful possession of a weapon, demonstrates his complete lack of respect for the rule of law.

To make matters worse, Mr. Jackson used his illegally possessed gun to hold his former girlfriend against her will. Judge O’Connell’s sentence today sends a strong message that in DuPage County we respect the rule of law and will not tolerate those who choose to ignore it."

What's next:

Jackson will serve eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in the 7-Eleven case and 10 years in prison in the Childs Street case. The sentences will run consecutively.

The Source: Information for this article was provided in a statement from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

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