Lake Co. man pleads not guilty to home invasion

A Park City man pleaded not guilty Friday to charges he forced his way into a Beach Park house and pointed a gun at the resident.

Joey Rodriguez, 27, faces a mandatory prison sentence of 21 to 45 years if convicted of home invasion.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz said Rodriguez, of the 300 block of Hood Avenue, went to a house in the 37000 block of Harper Road on Oct. 3, 2008. Fisz said Rodriguez knocked on the door and when the man inside opened it, Rodriguez drew a pistol and forced his way inside.

The owner of the house told police Rodriguez shouted he was there about "Santiago". When the homeowner and was finally able to convince the assailant there was no one named Santiago there, Rodriguez fled through the back door, Fisz said.

Lake County sheriff deputies brought a K-9 unit to the scene and the dog followed Rodriguez's scent through a wooded area behind the house.

Police discovered a sweatshirt and head wrap the victim identified his assailant as wearing, as well as a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver.

A DNA sample was taken from the head wrap, and it was matched to Rodriguez during a comparison in March of this year to the national database of DNA samples taken from convicted felons, Fisz said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, Fisz said, and police took him into custody in May.

In addition to home invasion, Rodriguez is charged with possession of a weapon by a felon based on his convictions for burglary in 2005 and 2006.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial of the case for Oct. 26. He told Rodriguez, who is held on $500,000 bond, to appear in court Oct. 6.