An Aurora gang member with a felony conviction has been sent to prison for unlawfully possessing a handgun.

Terrance D. Boyd, 21, of the 500 block of Spring Street, Aurora, was sentenced late Thursday, July 10, 2014, by Associate Judge Clint Hull to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

On June 11, 2014, Boyd pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon, a  Class 2 felony. Judge Hull accepted the plea.

At about 9:15 p.m. Jan. 10, 2014, Aurora police stopped a gray 2008 Nissan Altima driven by Boyd for a traffic violation. Boyd’s girlfriend was a riding in the front passenger seat. After the officer obtained Boyd’s identification and was walking back to his service vehicle, Boyd pulled a loaded .357-caliber revolver from his pants pocket and placed it in his girlfriend’s purse on the front passenger floorboard. After officers learned that Boyd was on parole, they returned to the car and told Boyd and the passenger to exit the car so the officer could conduct a search. During the search officers found the gun in the purse. When asked about the gun, Boyd acknowledged that it was his, and said that he kept it as protection. He told police during a later interview that he was a member of an Aurora street gang.

In 2012 Boyd was convicted of aggravated robbery from a 2012 incident in Aurora. He was sentenced to boot camp and two years parole.

According to Illinois law, Boyd is eligible for day-for-day sentencing. He receives credit for at least 183 days served in the Kane County jail, where he had been held since his arrest in lieu of $100,000 bail. Bond was revoked upon conviction.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release