Burglary suspect from Alabama pleads not guilty in Lake County

One of two Alabama men suspected in up to 40 burglaries in four states pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Jason Hudgins, 29, of Auburn, Ala., is charged locally with burglarizing businesses in Lincolnshire and Highland Park.

Assistant State's Attorney Steven Derue said Lincolnshire police responded to a burglar alarm from a business in the 400 block of N. Milwaukee Avenue at 3:19 a.m. on March 14. The officer discovered a door to the business had been pried open and a cash drawer was missing.

Highland Park police made a similar discovery at a business at Green Bay Road and Park Avenue earlier the same morning, Derue said, and security cameras at both locations showed the same Dodge Avenger leaving the scenes.

Police also linked the car to a pair of burglaries in downstate Montgomery County the previous day, Derue said.

An alert was sent out for the vehicle, Derue said, and Wheeling police spotted it March 19, but the suspects were able to escape.

Franklin, Wis., police saw the vehicle later the same day and were able to take Hudgins into custody.

The second suspect, Andrew Evans, 34, of Fultondale, Ala., drove away with the car, but was caught March 29 in Indianapolis, Ind.,

Derue said the pair are believed to be involved in burglaries in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri during the past few months.

Circuit Judge John Phillips told Hudgins he faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of the local charges, and ordered him to appear in court May 12.

Evans remains in custody in Indiana, Derue said, where extradition proceedings are pending.