Gun Found During Check Of Parolee's Home

EVANSTON, IL — State correctional agents found a handgun at the home of an Evanston man on parole last week during a compliance check. Police said the man now faces and additional felony charge for being in possession of a firearm as an armed habitual criminal.

Dakane Masters, 22, was paroled to a home in the 1800 block of Grey Avenue, police said. He was arrested at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday, shortly after Illinois Department of Corrections personnel and Evanston police tactical officers showed up at the home during the scheduled check.

In a search of the house, parole agents found a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber handgun in Masters' living area, according to police.

Police said Masters admitted having the gun during questioning by Evanston detectives. Cook County prosecutors approved a felony charge.

Masters was charged with one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon – armed habitual criminal, and one count of possession of a handgun or ammunition without a firearm owners identification card.

Masters was on parole as a result of a conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison, and residential burglary, for which he was given a four-year sentence, according to IDOC records.

He had already been arrested at least once already since being paroled, with a charge of theft of less than $500 related to a report of an late-night mugging in Wrigleyville last June, according to police records.

Masters was able to provide 10 percent of his $100,000 bond was released from Cook County Jail.

He is due back in court on March 29 in Skokie.