People v. Oden

Defendant, Thomas C. Oden, was charged in the circuit court of St. Clair County with unlawful use of weapons by a felon. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1990, ch. 38, par. 24—1.1.) The basis of the charge was that Oden was seen outside a nightclub holding an "Uzi-type” weapon. After a trial by jury, Oden was found guilty and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

At trial, Sergeant Gregory Cox of the East St. Louis police department testified that on the night of June 23-24, 1991, he heard gunfire near the Bachelor’s Lounge, a nightclub just down the street from Cox’s residence. As he was leaving for work…