Rockford Man Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Handgun After Police Chase

A 19-year-old man from Rockford, Illinois, was sentenced to 30 months of probation after pleading guilty to possessing a stolen firearm and resisting arrest. The charges stemmed from an incident on August 19, 2023, when Alexander Kurtz fled from police during a traffic stop in Byron.

Appearing before Ogle County Associate Judge Anthony Peska on September 17, Kurtz entered his guilty plea during a pretrial hearing with his attorney, Eric Morrow. Initially, he faced multiple felony charges, including unlawful use of a stolen firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The series of events began when deputies from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department stopped the vehicle in which Kurtz was a passenger at approximately 18:39 near the intersection of West Blackhawk Drive and South Fox Run Lane.

Court documents reveal that Kurtz ran from a deputy while carrying an AREX Delta X 9 mm handgun. Despite police commands to stop, he fled through a residential area in Byron, with the firearm loaded with 17 rounds but lacking a bullet in the chamber. Authorities reported that the gun had been stolen from Rockford, and Kurtz did not possess a Firearm Owner Identification Card (FOID).

During the detention hearing on August 20, Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley highlighted that Kurtz ignored police directives and posed a potential threat while armed. Following his guilty plea, Kurtz was sentenced to concurrent probation terms for two charges: possession of a stolen firearm, classified as a class 2 felony, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a class 4 felony. The other charges against him were dismissed.

As part of his sentence, Kurtz is required to submit to DNA testing and successfully complete any psychological or substance abuse assessments mandated by the probation department. Additionally, he is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition, or other dangerous items. He was also ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $1,000. Although the court mandated 58 days in jail, Kurtz received credit for the 29 days he had already served, effectively fulfilling that part of his sentence.

This case highlights the ongoing issues of gun violence and illegal firearm possession in the region, underlining the importance of law enforcement agencies in addressing such incidents.