Man found guilty of November 2010 unlawful possession of motor vehicle

Online Staff Report

Jonathan Shotwell, 38, was found guilty May 8 of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle after a jury trial before Judge Rosemary Collins.

Nov. 20, 2010, the victim and his friends went to a local restaurant where they watched a sporting event. At the end of the night, the victim went to his father’s car and started it. Two of his friends were parked in the car next to his father’s car. The victim then went back into the restaurant, leaving the car running. The defendant, Shotwell, got into the vehicle and drove off.

One of the victim’s friends was able to identify the defendant in a photo lineup as the person who drove off in the vehicle. The car was later recovered at the Bigfoot Lounge by the victim and his father.

Shotwell admitted to detectives he took the vehicle without the victim’s permission and drove it to the Bigfoot Lounge, leaving it there with the keys inside.

Unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle is a class 2 felony with a sentencing range of three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, because of the defendant’s prior record, he is subject to class X sentencing, with a sentencing range between six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and three years of mandatory supervised release. The defendant is not eligible for probation.

Sentencing is scheduled for 10 a.m., June 11, in courtroom 478 with Judge Collins.

Posted May 10, 2012