A 30-year-old Galesburg man will be sentenced in May after being found guilty of perjury in Knox County Circuit Court this week.
According to Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin, Max Matiala lied on a federal form when he attempted to purchase a firearm in December of 2020, lying on a sworn statement given to the Illinois State Police concerning his Firearm Owners Identification Card.
That month, the State’s Attorney’s Office charged Matiala with Armed Violence and Unlawful Restraint for holding people in an apartment at gunpoint.
Five days after his preliminary hearing in that case and on bail, Matiala went to Farm King in Galesburg and attempted to buy a 9mm pistol.
While completing the federal form required to purchase the gun, he stated under oath that he was not, quote, “under information or indictment for a felony” and Karlin argued that constituted perjury.
Karlin says that while the gun safety debate continues in the state, he thinks that we can, quote, “all agree that people charged with violent felonies should not be permitted to purchase firearms.”
“Those people who attempt to do so in violation of Illinois law will be prosecuted,” said the State’s Attorney in a Tuesday press release. “We will do all that we can to ensure that defendants who commit gun-related crimes are charged, convicted and sent to prison.”
He adds that during the 72-hour waiting period required under Illinois law, ISP flagged the purchase of the firearm, preventing it from occurring.
Matiala’s Armed Violence and Unlawful Restraint case has been scheduled for June 10.