Alton Traffic Stop Yields Machine Gun Possession Charges

ALTON – An Alton 18-year-old faces felony weapon charges after allegedly possessing a handgun modified to fire automatically.

Donovin J. Moore, 18, of Alton was charged on July 20, 2026 with one count each of unlawful use of weapons – possession of a machine gun (a Class X felony) and aggravated unlawful possession of weapons (a Class 4 felony).

Moore was allegedly knowingly in possession of a Glock 19 handgun which was “modified with a switch to make the weapon automatically fire more than one shot,” according to charging documents.

The handgun was reportedly uncased, loaded, and immediately accessible at the time of the offense, and was unlawful for Moore to possess as he had no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card or Concealed Carry License (CCL).

According to the state’s petition to deny Moore’s pretrial release from custody in this case, Moore was identified as the passenger during a traffic stop by Alton Police.

After the driver was arrested, the vehicle was “being inventoried for a tow” when officers reportedly found the modified firearm under the seat previously occupied by Moore.

Moore was ordered remanded to jail for his initial court appearance in the case presented by the Alton Police Department.

All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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