Vernon Hills man charged with orchestrating Wheeling burglaries

Cook County prosecutors have charged a Vernon Hills man they describe as a gang member in connection with several burglaries of Wheeling homes between February and June of last year.

Kenny Bahena, 22, was ordered held on $180,000 bail Thursday on four charges of residential burglary, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Anisa Jordan.

Between February and June 2014, Bahena, of the 800 block of Westmoreland Drive, drove younger gang members to several Wheeling complexes where they took jewelry and electronics from apartments, Jordan said. Bahena subsequently pawned the items, Jordan said.

Bahena's criminal background includes a misdemeanor battery conviction from 2014 and a firearm conviction from 2010, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Bahena faces up to 15 years in prison.

He next appears in court on April 2.