Round Lake Park man gets prison in home invasion

A Round Lake Park man was sentenced to 6½ years in prison Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to home invasion in Lake County Circuit Court.

Assistant State’s Attorney Victor O’Block said Raul Torres, 22, broke into a home on the 400 block of Kenwood Drive in Round Lake Park on Nov. 19.

A 21-year-old resident of the house awoke while Torres was in the house, O’Block said, and Torres wielded a knife as he gathered up electronic equipment from the house.

Torres forced the resident to help him load two television sets, an Xbox game system and other equipment into a duffle bag then left the house.

A witness told police she saw a man carrying things into a house down the block from where the home invasion occurred, and police recovered the stolen property.

Torres was identified by witnesses as the person who brought the property there, and was arrested later the same day.

O’Block said Torres could have received up to 30 years in prison if convicted after a trial.

Torres pleaded guilty during a hearing before Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes.