Palatine man gets 10 years for home invasion

A Cook County judge sentenced a Palatine man to 10 years in prison after he admitted breaking into his former girlfriend’s home and threatening her last August.

Oswaldo Ponce Jr., 46, pleaded guilty recently to home invasion, a class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to violating an order of protection, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. Ponce will serve the sentences concurrently. He must complete at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Police say Ponce broke into his former girlfriend’s Elk Grove Village apartment while she was sleeping and threatened her. The woman’s children were home at the time, police said.

According to Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Ponce repeatedly called the victim’s cellphone while investigators were at the home interviewing her.

Illinois Department of Corrections records indicate Ponce was convicted of driving on a revoked or suspended license in 2008 and of attempted arson in 2004.

He received credit for the 314 days he has spent in custody since his arrest and was ordered to pay $825 in fines.