Pre-trial hearing denied for felon who “plotted the end of the world”; 18 firearms, silencers and drugs found in Winthrop Harbor

A judge denied pretrial release to a convicted felon who claimed he was “preparing for the end of the world” after he was found in Winthrop Harbor with 18 firearms, drugs and 8,500 rounds of ammunition.

Officers with the Winthrop Harbor Police Department observed the cultivation of numerous cannabis plants in the backyard of a residential building in the 900 block of Fulton Avenue around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Lake County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Theis said officers spotted a loose dog at a gas station and followed it to a nearby home, where they observed the cannabis plants after being struck by the overwhelming smell of fresh cannabis.

A search warrant was obtained for the property and executed on Monday at around 4 p.m.

Theis said police seized 23 cannabis plants, 614.8 grams of cannabis, 22 grams of psilocybin and 223 Xanax pills.

They also seized 16 high-powered rifles and shotguns, including five AR-style rifles without serial numbers, commonly known as “ghost guns,” as well as two handguns, three silencers and approximately 8,500 rounds of ammunition.

Garry L. Turpin, 68, a longtime renter of the home, was taken into custody.

Turpin admitted to growing and selling the cannabis, Theis said. He claimed the pills were for his own personal use.

Turpin also admitted to using one of the guns, which had a homemade silencer, to kill a raccoon in the attic of the house several months ago while other tenants were in the house, Theis said.

Turpin is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms.

Theis said Turpin also told officials he was “preparing for Armageddon.”

The Lake County District Attorney's Office has admitted to dozens of charges, including aggravated possession of a weapon, possession of cannabis with intent to traffic, unlawful possession of a weapon despite lack of authorization, possession of sativa plants, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a device with intent to silence a weapon, and serialization of unfinished frames or receivers.

Turpin was taken to court Tuesday morning, where Lake County Judge James Simonian ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

The detention hearing took place Thursday afternoon before Lake County Judge Ari Fisz.

Theis called Turpin “dangerous” and pointed out that he had deserialized weapons and silencers.

“The defendant believes the world is about to end, so any trial conditions have little meaning for him,” Theis said in arguing for Turpin's imprisonment.

Fisz granted the state's motion for detention and remanded Turpin to the Lake County Jail pending trial.

The judge said all the factors in this case were very concerning and that no release conditions could mitigate the danger the man posed to the community.

“While no place is immune from crime, teamwork with neighbors and police can make a difference in minimizing it. Please do your part and report suspicious activity to police. These reports can be made anonymously. In the event of an emergency, please call 911,” Winthrop Harbor police said after the raid.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for September 10.