Three teens accused in break-in of Antioch house
Three teenagers have been charged with breaking into an Antioch house owned by the grandfather of one of the suspects, authorities said.
Joshua W. Batson, 18, of Wauconda, and Victor T. Maldonado, 18, of McHenry, are charged with criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to a residence and possession of cannabis after their arrest, authorities said.
A 16-year-old male juvenile from Wauconda was also arrested and sent to the Depke Juvenile Justice Center near Vernon Hills on possible charges of criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to residence.
Authorities said an alert neighbor in the 600 block of Aspen Way saw Batson and the juvenile exit a gray Volkswagen about 1:35 p.m. Feb 8, break a rear window, and enter the home. The home is owned by Batson's grandfather, police said.
The neighbor phoned Antioch police, but officers did not find anyone in the residence, authorities said. Those officers called neighboring officers in Lake Villa and the Lake County Sheriff's Office to set up a perimeter, and the Volkswagen was stopped a short time later, authorities said.
Maldonado, Batson and the juvenile were returned to Antioch, and admitted to the break in, authorities said.
If found guilty of the most serious crime, Batson and Maldonado could be sentenced to one to three years in prison and fined $25,000, authorities said. The crime is also probationable.
Batson was taken to Lake County jail and ordered held on $5,000 bail with a return court date of March 5. It's unknown if he has been released on bond.
Maldonado was released from jail on a $30,000 personal recognizance bond and is due back in court March 5, authorities said.
Court dates for the juvenile are not released by the police department.
“This is another example of our community looking out for each other and contacting us when something like this occurs,” Antioch Police Chief John Laskowski said. “The quick response and a commitment to the Neighborhood Watch program has assisted APD in keeping the community safe.”