Men deny paint store burglary
Three men accused of breaking into a Round Lake Park paint store pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County circuit court.
Michael Johnson, 23, 103 Pineview Drive, Round Lake Park, Roger Werk, 27, 35366 Route 41, unincorporated Lake County near Gurnee, and Robert Schultz, 26, 810 Eaton Lane, Lake Villa, all face up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Tim Niehus said the owner of a tavern next to Delaware Coatings, 106 E. Main St., told police he saw three men leave the store around 4 a.m. on Sept 1.
The witness told police he saw them walking in the direction of Johnson's house and described the clothes they were wearing.
Police discovered the back door of the store had been kicked in and that a can of solvent had been spilled on the floor.
When police arrived at Johnson's house, they found traces of the solvent on the shoes Werk and Schultz were wearing.
They found paint supplies in a car parked in Johnson's driveway and $500 in cash inside a Delaware Coatings envelope in the house.
Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial for Nov. 7. He ordered all three suspects, who are held on $25,000 bond, to appear in court Oct. 24.