MT. VERNON, IL — A 29-year-old Mt. Vernon man was sentenced Tuesday in Jefferson County Court after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Curtis Devan was arrested in July of 2020 on charges of being an Armed Habitual Offender, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of Ammunition by a Felon and Resisting Arrest.

Mt. Vernon Police Department officers responded to the 2700 block of Jones for an argument involving one person who was armed with a handgun. Prior to the officer’s arrival, the armed person left in a vehicle. An officer in the area observed the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the driver of the vehicle, which was later revealed to be Devan, fled from the traffic stop on foot. He was seen running into his residence at 1007 South 12th Street while holding a handgun. Officers from the MVPD and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department deputies surrounded the residence and called out the occupants. Devan was taken into custody without further incident.

A search warrant was granted for the residence. Upon serving the warrant, a loaded handgun was found. Devan was formally charged with Class 2 felony possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and misdemeanor resisting a peace officer. He ultimately pleaded guilty to an amended felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm in exchange for the other charges being dismissed.