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Fourth suspect charged in home invasion near Villa Park

Bail was set at $300,000 Tuesday for the alleged mastermind of a home invasion and robbery in which the victim was beaten early Sunday near Villa Park.

Artur Pawlina, 26, is the fourth suspect charged with the attack on Dillon Lane in unincorporated DuPage County. Court records show he lives less than a mile from the victim.

Pawlina is accused of recruiting three friends to enter the home and steal a large amount of marijuana he believed the victim's son to have. In exchange, he would receive 10 percent of the proceeds, Assistant State's Attorney Mike Fisher said in bond court.

“He was essentially the catalyst that got this home invasion started,” Fisher said.

Pawlina helped plan the crime by showing his accomplices the victim's house, pointing out which door to use, and discussing the best time to carry out the robbery, Fisher said. After meeting at a party late Saturday, he instructed the other suspects to move ahead, according to prosecutors.

The 49-year-old victim was beaten after answering a knock on his door shortly after midnight Sunday. Authorities said two of Pawlina's co-defendants, 24-year-olds Ryan Berry and Anthony Nutoni, were armed with shotguns, while the third, Andrew Cotton, 24, had a knife.

The victim eventually retreated to his kitchen, armed himself with a knife, and threw dishes at the three intruders until they fled. Prosecutors said Cotton was hit in the head with a glass pitcher.

The foursome was charged after sheriff's detectives found Cotton at a hospital receiving treatment for head injuries matching those inflicted on one of the intruders. The suspects have all since confessed, according to prosecutors.

Wearing a bandage on his nose, Cotton appeared in bond court with visible cuts to his face Tuesday after being released from a hospital. Judge Elizabeth Sexton set bail at $300,000 for both Cotton and Pawlina, meaning they need $30,000 to bond out of jail. They must wear GPS tracking devices if released.

Court records show Berry and Cotton are roommates on the 300 block of Scott Avenue in Glen Ellyn. Nutoni lives on the 600 block of Edgewood Street in Lombard, and Pawlina of the south 200 block of Danby Street near Villa Park.

Berry and Nutoni, who appeared in court Monday, remained jailed Tuesday with bail set at $500,000 and $250,000, respectively.

The defendants each face two counts of home invasion and are due back in court this month. If convicted, they could face up to 45 years in prison.

Andrew Cotton
Ryan Berry
Anthony Nutoni
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