Suspect in Arlington Heights home invasion held on house arrest

The accommodations at John Abel's Schaumburg home surely exceed those at Cook County jail. But the house arrest Cook County Judge Kay Hanlon imposed on him in lieu of $500,000 bond is no less confining.

Citing his age while also acknowledging his juvenile record which she described as "not good," Hanlon ordered the 19-year-old submit to the electronic monitoring program, during a bond hearing Tuesday in a Rolling Meadows courtroom.

Abel, of the 200 block of Andrew Lane in Schaumburg, faces charges of home invasion, armed robbery and unlawful delivery of cannabis stemming from an incident that took place March 3 on the 2200 block of South Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights.

Abel and a co-defendant who has not yet been charged, forced their way into the victim's home, threatened him with handguns and took $1,500 and two pounds of marijuana, said Assistant State's Attorney Jesse Opdycke. The men fled in a black Chrysler which Bartlett police recovered, along with 1 pound of marijuana and the guns, in the 600 block of Harbor Terrace, Opdycke said.

Authorities issues a warrant for Abel on March 6. He turned himself into Arlington Heights police Monday.

Abel's attorney, Scott Gordon, said his client had committed offenses as a juvenile for which he successfully completed a three-year probation last month. Gordon added that Abel graduated from Elk Grove High School, where he was on the honor roll and played two sports. He currently attends Harper College, said Gordon.

Abel stood quietly while Hanlon explained her order.

"This is just like being in jail," she said. "You are to remain within the confines of your home 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless permission is granted by this court or the sheriff's department."

Any violation will bring the state's attorney back into court seeking a revocation of his bond, she said.

If convicted, Abel faces six to 30 years in prison. He next appears in court on April 3.