Fox Lake man cleared in home invasion

A Fox Lake man accused of participating in a home invasion earlier this year was cleared Monday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Prosecutors dropped the charges that could have sent Richard Madden, 19, to prison for as many as 30 years.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said Madden, of 260 E. Grand Ave., did not accompany Ryan Pike, 25, during the Feb. 21 crime. Pike and another man forced their way into a house on the 2600 block of Grand Avenue around 2 a.m. intent on stealing a gun.

After residents of the house fought with them, the pair fled empty-handed, and Pike was later identified by one of the victims.

Both Pike and Madden were arrested about two weeks after the crime, but Pike told authorities last week that Madden was not his accomplice.

Hoffert said a continuing investigation by Fox Lake police also is pointing at another individual, but no charges had been filed as of Monday.

Pike, of 123 S. Route 12, pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to a reduced charge of residential burglary and was sentenced to six years in prison.