A district judge has sentenced a 47-year-old St. Elmo man to 32 years in federal prison after he shot at law enforcement agents serving an arrest warrant at his residence in Fayette County.
Dax Baldrige pleaded guilty in January to seven counts of assault of a federal officer, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Following imprisonment, he will serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft says law enforcement officers are brave, underappreciated, and underpaid heroes who risk their lives every day to protect others/
“Those, like Dax Baldrige, who target our officers for violence represent a form of evil against the very foundation of society. Few things are as serious, and our office will bring the full weight of federal law to bear, relentlessly pursuing the harshest prison terms to hold such people accountable.”
On Oct. 17, 2022, task force members with the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Baldrige at his residence in Fayette County. When they arrived, the officers knocked and gave Baldrige an opportunity to present himself for arrest.
As they began to make entry to the residence, Baldrige used a stolen short barrel rifle equipped with 60 rounds of ammunition to shoot through the wall of his residence, nearly striking multiple officers. All agents were able to retreat from the residence safely and without injury.
After firing at officers, Baldrige barricaded himself in his residence and engaged in a standoff with law enf decision to open fire on law enforcement showed a blatant disregard for human life and the safety of the surrounding community. This sentence sends a clear message—violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated.
Following his arrest, investigating agents conducted a search of Baldrige’s residence and recovered nine firearms, including six rifles, a revolver, two pistols, and ammunition.
The U.S. Marshal Service Great Lakes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Illinois State Police, the FBI Springfield TOC West Task Force, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Arshi prosecuted the case.
