Fox Lake man pleads guilty to burglary

A Fox Lake man admitted Friday he broke into a house to steal a gun, then fought with the people inside.

In addition to pleading guilty to residential burglary, Ryan Pike, 25, cleared a second man who is charged with the crime.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said Pike, of 123 S. Grand Ave., and a second man pushed their way into a house in the 2600 block of Grand Avenue, Fox Lake, around 2 a.m. on Feb. 21.

Intent on stealing a rifle, Pike and the other man fought with a man and woman inside the home and threatened a child before leaving empty-handed.

The victims recognized Pike, and he and Richard Madden, 19, of 260 E. Grand Ave., Fox Lake, were arrested and charged with home invasion.

But Hoffert said Pike told authorities last month that Madden was not the person who accompanied him on the raid, and Madden was released from jail on a signature bond.

On Friday, Pike gave Hoffert a signed statement identifying his accomplice, whom Hoffert declined to name as the investigation continues.

Hoffert said he agreed to reduce the charge against Pike to residential burglary in exchange for his plea and the information.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman sentenced Pike to the agreed 6-year prison term.

Hoffert said he expects to drop the charges against Madden during a court appearance Monday.