Heroin Defendant Gets Jail Sentence

One of three men arrested by Bannockburn Police for possession of heroin and other offenses Nov. 26 pled guilty to the drug charge Tuesday in Lake County Criminal Court in Waukegan in exchange for a 180-day jail sentence.

faced one to three years in state prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. Instead he chose to spend 180 days in Lake County Jail less the 22 day he has already been confined.

Get local news in a daily email from Patch. It's like getting a free newspaper. Learn more.

“You could be sentenced to one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if you are convicted,” Judge Raymond Collins warned Bergner when explaining the potential consequences. “Are you guilty?”

“Yes,” Bergner said after listening to Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Britta Peffer explain what she would be able to prove at a trial.

“Witnesses from the Bannockburn Police Department will testify on Nov. 26 the Defendant was a passenger in a car that was stopped for going through a stop sign,” Peffer said. “When the defendant was asked to step out of the car a syringe fell out of his pocket.”

Peffer further explained how a container of heroin was found in the car containing Bergner’s name and cell phone.

also appeared in court. He received an offer of what kind of punishment he could expect if he chose to plead guilty. He is considering the proposal and will return to court at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 8.

For more news and updates, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.