East Peoria man faces gun charges
PEKIN – An East Peoria felon and brother of imprisoned white supremacist Matt Hale was charged Friday with illegally possessing a dozen stolen firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and handguns, according to Tazewell County court records.
David M. Hale, 38, of 217 Randolph St., admitted to his father, Russell Hale, and then to police that he stole the guns from his father and sold them for $2,000 worth of crack cocaine since May 1, according to court records. Russell Hale stored the guns at his residence, which he shares with his son.
East Peoria police would not comment on the case, citing its status as an ongoing investigation.
David Hale was charged with aggravated possession of a stolen firearm, a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. His bond was set at $200,000.
In 1995, David Hale was found guilty of charges stemming from a threat to kill his wife, Angie Hale, who was threatening to leave him. David Hale threatened to kill anyone who tried to take away the couple’s then 1-year-old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison, according to court records.
In 2002, David Hale was sentenced to two years in prison for violating an order of protection.
He is the older brother of white supremacist Matt Hale, 34. who last year was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his conviction on charges of murder solicitation and obstruction of justice.
Matt Hale encouraged an FBI informant to kill U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow in late 2002. Hale was angry because Lefkow had ordered his racist organization, the World Church of the Creator, to stop using its name when it lost a trademark lawsuit on appeal.