MARION COUNTY — A Marion County Judge found a 41-year-old Centralia man not guilty during a bench trial today of being an armed habitual criminal.

Fernando Calcutt, Jr. was arrested in February after Centralia police executing a search warrant on his truck and reportedly found a loaded handgun

Calcutt denied the gun was his and told police someone planted the gun in his truck.

Centralia police reportedly secured the search warrant after an earlier traffic stop revealed Richard Hammond, of Centralia, was in possession of heroin that allegedly came from Calcutt.

Centralia Police Lt. Greg Dodson and Officer Mike Peebles testified during Tuesday’s bench trial before Marion County Resident Judge Mark Stedelin.

Calcutt has been convicted of numerous drug-related felonies dating back to the 1990s; however, none of the charges specified use of a firearm.

But as a convicted felon, he is not allowed by Illinois law to own or possess a firearm.