Teen accused in car burglaries pleads guilty to lesser charge

The last of three Lake County teens charged with breaking into cars in Lindenhurst and Lake Villa pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Monday.

Noel Ortega, 19, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespass to a motor vehicle. Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Brett Henne said Ortega, of the 400 block of Parkview Court in Round Lake Park, was arrested Oct. 4 by Lake Villa police.

Ortega was in a car with Brandon Davis, 18, of the 1300 block of Ardmore Drive in Round Lake Beach, and Charlesetta Bills, 18, of the 300 block of South Rosedale Lane in Round Lake.

Police had received a call of suspicious people in the area of Roselle and Kenz courts and stopped the vehicle with the three teens inside as they arrived in the area.

Inside the car, police recovered four global positioning systems and an iPod they later discovered had been stolen from cars in Lake Villa and Lindenhurst.

All three were originally charged with burglary, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. Henne said he agreed to reduce the charges against all three in exchange for their guilty pleas.

Associate Judge George Bridges sentenced Ortega to two years on probation, fined him $250 and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service.

Davis and Bills entered similar pleas in November and received similar sentences.