Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter, charged with trying to board a plane in December with a handgun, was sentenced Wednesday to a year of court supervision.
Trotter pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless conduct for trying to go through security at O'Hare International Airport with a .25 caliber pistol and bullets. He must perform 60 hours of community service as part of a plea deal.
The misdemeanor conviction allows him to remain in the state legislator. A felony conviction would have forced him to resign.
Trotter, a state lawmaker for 24 years, had planned to run for Congress in Illinois' 2nd District to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. but later dropped out of the race. The seat was filled this month by Robin Kelly.
Trotter was flying out of O'Hare on his way to Washington, D.C. when he was arrested and later charged with a felony attempt to board an aircraft with a weapon.
The police report filed after his arrest states Trotter told authorities he'd forgotten the weapon was in the garment bag he uses for his work with All Points Security firm. It says he told police he worked late Tuesday night and did not realize the weapon was in the bag when he packed for his Wednesday morning flight.
He spent a night in jail and posted the required 10 percent of a $25,000 bond.
Trotter's attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday the reduced charge from felony to misdemeanor was “fair and appropriate.”
