Dozens of guns including assault rifles and thousands of rounds of ammo are seized from home of lawyer arrested for DUI

  • Illinois lawyer Donald Franz, 50, has been charged with DUI, resisting arrest and illegally possessing a massive cache of firearms
  • He was pulled over on suspicion of DUI in Crystal Lake, Illinois, on January 19, at which time police found a loaded gun in his possession 
  • They later search his home, seizing 36 high-powered rifles, assault rifles and shotguns, 20 assorted handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition

By Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:24 EST, 26 January 2017 | Updated: 17:33 EST, 26 January 2017

Lawyer charged: Illinois attorney Donald Franz, 50, has been charged with DUI, resisting arrest and illegally possessing a massive cache of firearms 

The arrest of a suburban Chicago attorney suspected of drunk driving led to the seizure of a massive arsenal of guns and ammunition from his home.

Donald Franz, 50, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, is accused of DUI with a loaded weapon in his car and having an illegal stash of guns at his home without proper permits.

At around 10.20pm last Thursday, officers responded to North Williams Street in Crystal Lake for a report of a possible intoxicated motorist, later identified as Franz.

The attorney was alone in his car. According to a press release from the police department, he became combative during an investigation and was taken into custody after resisting arrest.

As he was being detained, police say Franz was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. Additional rounds of assorted ammunition were located inside his car.

Arsenal: Police seized 36 high-powered rifles, assault rifles and shotguns, 20 assorted handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition (pictured) from Franz's home 

Police executed a search warrant at the lawyer's house on Dartmoor Court (pictured) after he was pulled over on suspicion of DUI 

Based on that information, investigators got a search warrant for Franz's home at 358 Dartmoor Court.

A search of the residence was carried out on Friday and yielded 36 high-powered rifles, assault rifles and shotguns, 20 assorted handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The lawyer is believed to be an avid hunter.  

Franz has been charged with aggravated DUI; unlawful possession of a suspended driver’s license; aggravated battery to a police officer; resisting arrest; unlawful possession of a firearm without a permit; unlawful possession of ammunition; carrying a concealed firearm while under the influence, and other counts. 

Franz has been practicing law in Illinois since 1993. He is the son of the late McHenry County Judge James Franz, reported Northwest Herald. 

Franz was being held Tuesday at the McHenry County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. He is due back in court on February 2.

His past criminal record includes an arrest in April 2016 on charges of DUI, failure to carry/display a driver's license, possession of a firearm and ammunition without a valid permit, and operation of a motor vehicle without insurance.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Franz is currently under investigation by the state's Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission stemming from an allegation that he insulted a client's manhood and challenged him to a duel as part of a dispute over a legal fee.

In October, Franz was also accused of threatening to kill a member of the disciplinary commission.

On September 14, Franz allegedly left a voicemail message to ARDC official Jerry Larkin that said: 'I’m the attorney you are trying to murder..., so the day you suspend me, I’m going to stop taking my pills, I’m going to get my affairs in order, I am going to kill you. Have a nice day.'

Comments (0)

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now