Felon Indicted On Murder Charges In McHenry County Deputy's Death

ROCKFORD, IL — The accused gunman man charged with first-degree murder for the March 7 shooting death of McHenry County Sheriff's Department Deputy Jacob Keltner was scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Wednesday in Rockford, according to a release from U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois. Floyd E. Brown, 39, was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges of killing an officer of a federal agency engaged in official duties, according to The Daily Herald. The federal charges have a maximum penalty of death, or life in prison.

Brown was also indicted on charges of illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon and illegal possession of firearms with an obliterated serial number.

Just hours after Brown was taken into custody on March 7, the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office authorized charges of first-degree murder and a warrant was obtained with no bond for Brown, who is accused of shooting Deputy Keltner outside a Rockford Extended Stay America hotel in the 700 block of North Bell School Road.

Brown was transported back to Winnebago County after Illinois State Police troopers arrested him around 5 p.m., March 7, nearly eight hours after 35-year-old Keltner, sworn in as a special deputy U.S. marshal, was shot. Police said they responded at around 9:15 a.m. to the hotel after receiving a report that a task force member had been shot while U.S. marshals were attempting to arrest Brown on several outstanding warrants, including burglary charges out of McLean and Champaign counties; failure to appear out of Sangamon County; and parole violation via the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC).

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, also authorized attempted murder charges against Brown. Officials said the possibility of the death penalty has not been ruled out due to the severity of the federal charges.

RELATED:

• 'Loved And Respected' Deputy Dies After Rockford Shooting
• Court Appearance Scheduled For Accused Rockford Gunman

According to records from IDOC and Sangamon County court records, Brown's trouble with the law dates back to 1995. There are more than a dozen pages listing charges against Brown in Sangamon County, including resisting a peace office and several criminal misdemeanors. IDOC records include 2001 felony charges of possessing a weapon, a 2011 residential burglary conviction and prison sentence, followed by a disorderly conduct charge, and then an emergency order of protection that expired in July 2018.

Brown also had several other charges, speeding tickets and violations before he spent time in prison.