Bond Denied for Convicted Felon Charged with Armed Habitual Criminal for Alleged Illegal Possession of a Firearm

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Naperville Chief of Police Jason Arres announced today that bond has been denied for a Joliet convicted felon accused of illegally possessing a firearm. Darron Prince, 36 (d.o.b. 5/7/1987) of the 500 block of Meadow Lily Drive, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Prince is charged with one count of Armed Habitual Criminal and one count of Armed Violence, both offenses are a Class X Felony.

On September 11, 2023, at approximately 9:34 p.m., a Naperville police officer on foot patrol at TopGolf on Odyssey Court, observed an odor of cannabis coming from an unoccupied Volkswagen SUV. It is alleged that upon further inspection, the officer noticed a gun protruding from the driver’s side door frame. It is alleged that approximately one hour later, Prince returned to the parking lot and entered the SUV at which time Naperville police officers immediately activated their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. It is alleged that Prince, who was seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, made movements towards the door frame where the gun was located causing officers to order him to stop reaching toward the door frame. Prince was taken into custody at that time. When searching the vehicle, police located a loaded Glock 42 handgun in the driver’s side door frame, as well as 40 grams of cannabis, 1.2 grams of mushrooms, 12 grams of cocaine, 19 grams of heroin and one pill of MDMA. Prince currently has pending theft (Class 1 Felony) and Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X Felony) cases out of Will County. Additionally, Prince has previous felony convictions including Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Gang Member and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon.

“With multiple felony convictions, there is absolutely no justification whatsoever why Mr. Prince was in possession of a loaded firearm, as alleged in this case,” Berlin said. “The allegations that he was in possession of a loaded weapon at a family-friendly recreation facility are extremely troubling and if found guilty of today’s charges, he will find himself facing a significant amount of time behind bars. I thank the Naperville Police Department whose fine police work led to the removal of a dangerous weapon from our streets and quite possibly prevented a future tragedy. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Robert Willis and Michael Pingaj for their work in securing today’s charges against Mr. Prince and for their ongoing efforts in keeping DuPage County safe from violent criminals.”

“I continue to stress that the Naperville Police Department is proactive in seizing illegal weapons, and this case is just the latest example,” Arres said. “Our officers are making an extraordinary effort to keep this community safe, and I appreciate the hard work they put in on this case and many others. I also want to thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his office for their continued collaboration on these matters.”

Prince’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 27, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Brian Telander.

Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Darron Prince

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.