A 36-year-old Centralia man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for armed violence.
Anthony J.G. Barnes had entered a guilty to the Class X charge in Jefferson County Court at Mt. Vernon in October and had been free on personal recognizance bond pending the Thursday sentencing hearing.
Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Merrell handled the sentencing hearing.
As part of the earlier negotiated plea, another armed violence charge and a charge of being an armed habitual criminal were dropped.
The charges stem from a traffic stop on October 9th of last year when Barnes, who was a passenger, reportedly climbed into the driver’s seat and attempted to drive off while the original driver was being given a field sobriety test. Mt. Vernon Police at the time said a second officer prevented Barnes from driving off, but then Barnes allegedly battered the officer and fled on foot. Barnes also allegedly refused to give police his name.
During a search of Barnes, he was allegedly found in possession of a loaded handgun, cannabis, and methamphetamine. He was on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections at the time of the incident.
