A Galesburg man will be back in Knox County Circuit Court on charges of armed violence and meth possession in August.
25-year-old Martae H. West Jr made a video appearance Wednesday afternoon where a judge set his bond at $30,000 and appointed the public defender’s office to represent his case.
He faces three charges, the most severe of which is a Class X charge of Armed Violence. A conviction carries a 15-30 year prison term in the Department of Corrections. Additionally, he faces a Class 3 Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine charge and a misdemeanor count of domestic battery.
According to Galesburg police reports, West was arrested following a reported physical domestic incident where a man and woman were screaming at each other, with the man allegedly punching the woman.
At around 11:56, officers were dispatched to the area of North Cherry and East North streets where they located West and a woman, who matched the description of the two people.
Before West was handcuffed and searched he allegedly handed the woman a black travel bag that was strapped to him. The police report says that he asked her if she wanted it back and she hesitated before accepting it.
The search of West led to the discovery of a “broken, green, glass drug pipe.” The pipe allegedly contained a white powdery residue.
Officers then searched the bag and located a loaded handgun, two baggies and two containers each containing suspected methamphetamine.
The report indicates the gun was a .32 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver — capable of holding six cartridges but only loaded with five.
All the suspected methamphetamine field-tested positive and weighed in at three grams.
Officers allegedly also found a steel-colored folding knife and three lighters in the bag.
In court on Wednesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Sabrina Stroops acknowledged that West did not have a FOID card.
West’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for August 19th at 2:00 p.m.
