Shawneetown man gets 20 years for weapons conviction

HARRISBURG - A 38-year-old Shawneetown man - William A. Patton - was sentenced in Saline County Circuit Court Wednesday to 20 years in prison with three years of mandatory supervised release, in two separate cases of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

That is a Class 2 felony. Judge Walden Morris delivered the sentencing.

On Oct. 13 of last year, Saline County State's Attorney Jayson Clark filed charges against Patton arising out of an incident in which it was alleged that he unlawfully possessed a stolen 1999 Chevrolet Corvette.

Also on March 1 of this year, Clark filed additional charges against Patton who was unlawfully possessing a shotgun after having been previously convicted of a forcible felony.

Because Patton had been convicted of multiple prior felony offenses, he was sentenced as a Class X offender on each charge.

The investigation of Patton's cases was led by Officer Jerod Gott of the Eldorado Police Department. Clark prosecuted each case.