Man gets 19-year prison sentence for Rolling Meadows home invasion
A Palatine man was sentenced to 19 years in prison Tuesday after admitting he forced his way into a Rolling Meadows home on the pretext of collecting church donations and injured a 75-year-old woman.
Vladimir Georges, 23, pleaded guilty to the 2016 home invasion during a hearing Tuesday before Cook County Judge Marc Martin.
Georges' guilty plea follows one from co-defendant Robert Cutler, of Hoffman Estates. Cutler, 32, pleaded guilty to home invasion last month in exchange for a 12-year sentence.
Charges are still pending against co-defendants Justin Cortes, 22, of Chicago and Sarah Wendy, 24, of Glenview.
According to prosecutors, the homeowner awoke about 9:25 a.m. on June 28, 2016, to someone knocking at her back door. As she opened the door, Georges told her he was collecting money for a church, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Denise Loiterstein.
After the woman refused him and attempted to shut the door, Georges grabbed her left arm and threw her to the floor. Warning her not to scream, he demanded money while Cutler entered the home behind him and proceeded to the bedroom. The woman directed Georges to her purse.
After the defendants left, the woman called 911 with a description of the intruders.
Within minutes, police encountered a car driven by Wendy with passengers matching the descriptions, Loiterstein said.
Wendy, after disregarding police attempts to stop, crashed near Woodfield Mall, Loiterstein said. Inside the car, police found a flowered pillowcase with jewelry, a jewelry box and mail addressed to the victim, Loiterstein said.
Martin recited the victim's impact statement from Cutler's sentencing several weeks ago and referenced her comments that she "lives in fear" and "shudders at the thought of someone coming to her house."
"No matter what sentence I impose, it's not going to remove the harm" she felt, Martin said.
Georges, who had no criminal background, received credit for 561 days in custody plus an additional 357 days for programs completed while in jail. He must complete at least 50 percent of his sentence.