A Kewanee man accepted a plea deal after two separate traffic stops yielding possession of a weapon by a felon and a possession of meth. Shawn Swearingen was sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), with day-for-day credit and credit for time served. Following his release from prison, he will have six months of mandatory supervised release. He must report within 180 days of his release to make payment arrangements on monies owed. All remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
On February 23, 2024, Kewanee Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the 300 block of Tenney Street after observing the vehicle traveling over the center line and speeding westbound on East McClure Street. Officers caught up with the vehicle at the intersection of Tenney and East McClure after the vehicle failed to correctly navigate a turn onto Tenney Street. A Taurus 9mm was found during a search of the vehicle. On September 22, 2023, the Kewanee Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Shawn Swearingen. A search of his person found a substance containing methamphetamine in his front pocket.
Shawn Swearingen was charged with three counts of Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 3 Felony), Aggravated Unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4 Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Use of Cannabis/Driver (Class A Misdemeanor), Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle (Class P Other), and Driving on Wrong Side of Road (Class P Other) for case 2024CF71. Swearingen is charged with Possession of Meth <5 Grams (Class 3 Felony) and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony) for case 2023CF308.