GALON MACK SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON BY A FELON
Marsha L. Cascio-Hale, Jackson County State’s Attorney, announced today that Galon
Mack, 58, of Carbondale, Illinois, was sentenced to 11 years in the Illinois Department
of Corrections. The sentencing hearing took place on May 5, 2026, following a jury trial
held in early December 2025.
During the jury trial, the State presented evidence that on September 17, 2025, Mack
was pulled over for a traffic violation. When officers approached the vehicle, Mack
showed signs of intoxication. Upon removing him from the vehicle, officers observed
drug paraphernalia in plain view. A probable cause search was conducted, and a
firearm was ultimately located in the vehicle’s trunk.
Video surveillance from the Fields Apartment Complex in Carbondale showed that Mack
had been at a gathering outside the apartments with several other individuals. That
footage showed Mack carrying an item in his waistband, displaying the item to others at
the gathering, and then placing it in the trunk of the vehicle. In a subsequent interview,
Mack indicated he had possibly touched the firearm before but was evasive when asked
further questions. As a convicted felon, Mack is prohibited from possessing firearms.
A sentencing hearing was conducted on May 5, 2026, where arguments were presented
by Jackson County Assistant State’s Attorney Sophia Allen and defense counsel. The
judge ultimately sentenced Mack to 11 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
The investigation was led by the Carbondale Police Department and the Jackson
County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was led by Assistant State’s Attorney Sophia
Allen. ASA Allen commended the investigative work of law enforcement and the
dedication of the Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office throughout the prosecution of
this case.
“Gun violence is a crime that impacts not only the lives of those involved in
the case, but our community as well. In order to keep our community safe
and to prevent violence, crimes involving gun violence will be prosecuted
to the fullest extent of the law.”
— ASA Sophia Allen
“Both law enforcement and ASA Allen did an exemplary job in obtaining a
conviction in this matter. Gun violence is taken very seriously and will not
be tolerated in our community.”
— State’s Attorney Marsha Cascio-HaleLEGAL NOTICE
A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate. This responsibility carries with it
specific obligations to see that the defendant is accorded procedural justice, and that guilt is decided upon the basis of sufficient
evidence. Except for statements that are necessary to inform the public of the nature and extent of the prosecutor’s action and that
serve a legitimate law enforcement purpose, by Supreme Court Rule, the State’s Attorney is not allowed to make statements about
pending cases or investigations which would pose a serious and imminent threat to the fairness of the proceeding. Rule 3.8 —
Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. For a list of certain subjects which have been determined to pose such a threat to the
fairness of the proceedings and for a list of subjects which do not, please see Rule 3.6 — Trial Publicity.
For any press release involving a case which has not yet been tried, please note that: a defendant is presumed to be innocent of
a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of the jury.