'Multiple Firearms,' 13 Cellphones Found After Wheaton Man Stole Car: Police

WHEATON, IL — A Wheaton man with a prior felony conviction faces new felony charges after police say they found "multiple guns," 13 cellphones and five ghost key fobs in his home during a vehicle theft investigation that began in Maywood.

Jermaine Morris, 24, 900 block of S. Lorraine Road, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of burglary tools in connection with the Oct. 3 incident.

Police were called to the 1200 block of Bataan Street in Maywood for a report of that a 2014 Dodge Charger had been stolen. Officers reported that they later found the vehicle roughly 10 blocks away from the spot it had been stolen.

According to police, a tow company told officers that they received a request to tow the car to the 1000 block of South Lorraine Road in Wheaton.

After an investigation, police obtained a warrant to search Morris's home. Police executed the warrant Tuesday and reported finding a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun, a Ruger 22 Charger rifle that had been reported stolen and a kit with parts to make a gun. They additionally reported finding five ghost key fobs, 13 cellphones and a key fob reprogrammer.

“Public safety remains the cornerstone of my office, and the allegation that Mr. Morris unlawfully possessed multiple dangerous weapons is outrageous,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “With multiple felony convictions, Mr. Morris has forever forfeited his right to legally own a firearm. The allegation that Mr. Morris ignored the law and was in possession of multiple firearms will be met with the full force of the law."

Morris is being held in DuPage County Jail and is set to appear in court on Nov. 3.