Teenager pleads guilty in arson case

The last of three defendants in the intentional burning of a Round Lake Beach house pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Edwin Lara, 18, will be facing up to seven years in prison when he returns to court July 24 for sentencing.

Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz said Lara, of 322 Glenwood in Round Lake Beach, was one of three people who acted together to burn a house in the 200 block of Clarendon Drive last July 31.

Lara and Ivan Moreno-Hernandez went to the area of the house about 1 a.m. on the orders of Juan Luna, who was seeking revenge for the intentional burning of his mother's car a few weeks earlier, authorities said.

Fisz said several witnesses called police after they saw Lara set the house on fire.

The house suffered extensive damage, but the people inside escaped unharmed.

Both Lara and Moreno-Hernandez were caught at the scene and Luna was arrested the next day.

Moreno-Hernandez, 20, of 1529 N. Lakeshore Drive in Round Lake Beach, and Luna, 20, of 5411 Route 12 in Richmond, had previously pleaded guilty in the case and are scheduled to be sentenced July 9.

All three were originally charged with aggravated arson and were facing up to 15 years in prison, but Fisz agreed to reduce the charge to arson in exchange for the guilty pleas.