Third guilty plea in Carpenterville home invasion
A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty to his role in a spring 2011 home invasion in Carpentersville over stolen marijuana and was sentenced to six years in prison.
A jury had been picked and testimony began against Derell Howse, of the 0-99 block of Grove Street, Carpentersville, when he opted to plead guilty to residential burglary, a felony that carried a four- to 15-year prison term. He also must pay a $840 fine and up to $1,500 restitution for damage to the home.
In exchange for the plea, Kane County prosecutors dropped other charges of home invasion, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm and other offenses. The most serious of the charges carried a six- to 30-year prison term if convicted.
Defense attorney Alfred Ivy declined to elaborate on why his client had a change of heart once the trial began.
“You look at what a case is, what the charges are and they are what they are,” Ivy said. “I’m not at liberty to discuss (Howse’s) motives.”
Howse is the third out of four people to plead guilty to the March 13, 2011, break-in in the 300 block of Four Winds Way on the village’s west side. Carpentersville police said Howse and three others went to the home to retrieve an ounce of marijuana that was stolen in a drug deal gone bad. The victim called the police from his basement as the four walked through the house looking for him.
Franklin Alrich Jr., 26, of the 1800 block of Endicott Circle, Carpentersville, was accused of entering the home while armed and had on a ski mask and gloves, police said. No one was hurt and no shots were fired.
Alrich and Johnny Lesure-Glasper, 26, of the 1100 block of Apple Lane, Elgin, both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to four years in prison. Edgar Sametio, 23, of 2000 block of Berkshire Circle, Carpentersville, is due in court on April 15.
Even if Howse has his sentenced halved for good behavior while in prison, he might be behind bars longer. Last week, while out on bond for the home invasion case, Howse and another person were arrested and charged with felony marijuana possession.
Carpentersville Police Cmdr. Timothy Bosshart said police pulled over Howse at 5:27 p.m. March 14 at Ravine Road and Northlake Parkway in Carpentersville. Officers could “smell an odor of fresh cannabis coming from the car” and seized 103.35 grams or nearly four ounces, Bosshart said.
Howse and his passenger, Joann Alrich, 23, of the 1800 block of Endicott, were charged with felony marijuana possession with intent to deliver. Alrich, who is Franklin Alrich’s younger sister, is free on bond and due in court on May 12,
Howse is due in court on the new charges on March 29. They both face two to five years in prison if convicted.