THE FOLLOWING RELEASE IS FROM THE VERMILION COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
On January 3, 2024, Jim Smith, (DOB: 2/21/1985) formerly of Danville, IL, plead guilty to the offenses of Unlawful Possession of Weapon by Felon, a class 3 felony, and Criminal Damage to Property, a class 4 felony. Smith was sentenced to a total of 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the two offenses and will serve a term of six months of mandatory supervised release following his incarceration.
The Honorable Derek Girton heard evidence that on March 6, 2022, Jim Smith and another individual were outside an apartment building on Garden Drive in Danville. As the victim walked up to the apartment building where he resides, Smith asked to borrow ten dollars. The victim refused and then went inside to his own apartment. Later, the victim was inside his apartment when he heard a knock at the door. Expecting it to be his girlfriend, he answered, but on the other side of the door was Smith. An altercation ensued in the hallway of the apartment building between Smith and the victim. Smith was then handed a gun by an individual in a nearby apartment. Smith then chased the victim to the victim’s apartment and shot the victim through the door of his apartment. The incident was captured on security cameras.
State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy expressed her gratitude to the Danville Police Department for their determination in removing firearms from the hands of felons. “My office will continue to work with law enforcement to send a message to violent offenders that criminal activity will not be tolerated.”
