Ottawa man gets probation in gun plea

An Ottawa man pleaded guilty Friday to firing a gun at a vehicle near Starved Rock State Park and injuring the driver in his leg. The man who fired the gun was sentenced to four years of felony probation.

Thomas J. Reynolds, 41, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony carrying a sentence of four to 15 years in prison. Reynolds was sentenced to 48 months of reporting probation and one day in jail (time served). The gun was confiscated.

As part of the plea, prosecutors dismissed a second count of aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony carrying six to 30 years with no possibility of probation. The now-dismissed count alleged that Reynolds “knowingly discharged a firearm and thereby caused bodily harm to [the victim] in that he shot [the victim] in the leg.”

In open court Friday, Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Matt Kidder said that had the case gone to trial, the state was prepared to call witnesses to a shooting reported Nov. 13, 2022, in an area near Starved Rock State Park. A tenant in rural Oglesby had been evicted from his residence and arrived to find individuals removing his belongings. An altercation ensued, Kidder said, and Reynolds fired at the tenant’s retreating vehicle.

Reynolds declined to address Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. when offered a chance to speak at Friday’s plea.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro declined to comment on why the Class X firearm charge was dropped.