JJC Police Make 1st Major Arrest In 2026, 'Yeah, There Is A Pistol Under The Seat': Prosecutor

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Junior College Police Department arrested a 45-year-old Joliet motorist last week during a traffic stop that turned up a loaded handgun with one bullet in the chamber, according to court files. Defendant Larry Robinson Jr. subsequently spent three days in the Will County Jail in connection with his felony gun charges.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office has charged Robinson with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of a firearm without a required FOID card and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. The criminal complaint was submitted by JJC officer Jose Melendez.

According to the petition to deny Robinson pretrial release, on Jan. 7, one of the JJC officers stopped Robinson on Houbolt Road in Joliet for not having a front license plate. An odor of burnt cannabis was noted. Robinson said he had just smoked and showed the officer a roach from the ashtray, court documents noted.

The JJC officer asked if there was any more cannabis and Robinson showed the officer more cannabis in a cigarette container, 3 grams, court documents show. The officer searched for more unsealed cannabis and recovered a loaded 9-millimeter handgun under the driver's seat.

Robinson spontaneously stated, "yeah there is a pistol under the seat," court records indicate.

The Ruger 9-millimeter had a live round in the chamber and seven more bullets in the magazine. Later, Robinson told the JJC police that "he knew it was there and that it was his cousin's," prosecutors noted.

The Joliet motorist does not have a FOID card, nor does he have a CCL permit. He was convicted in Will County under 2004 CF102 for armed robbery.

Will County Judge Chrystel Gavlin turned down the prosecution's request to keep Robinson detained under the SAFE-T-Act. She ordered his release from the Will County Jail, and the corrections guards complied, letting Robinson out around 7 p.m. on Jan. 9, court files show.