Prosecutors are seeking pre-trial detention for a man, who is a convicted felon, accused of burglarizing and attempting to burglarize multiple residences in Lake Forest Tuesday.
Adam C. Pena, 28, of Wadsworth, was charged with residential burglary, attempted residential burglary, burglary to motor vehicle, two counts of criminal damage to property, theft and criminal trespass to residence.
The Lake Forest Police Department responded around 5:58 a.m. Tuesday to the 700 block of Green Bay Road in Lake Forest.
Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Michael Lange said officers received reports of a burglar alarm at a residence.
Officers responded and began searching the area.
They learned of several more burglaries in the area of Green Bay Road and Westminster Avenue while conducting their search, Lange said.
Nearby residents provided video to the officers and they were able to develop a description of the suspect, later identified as Pena.
Officers located Pena in the 80 block of Sunset Drive in Lake Forest around 8 a.m.
Lange said Pena attempted to elude officers by fleeing the area on foot but was taken into custody a short time later.
Pena was transported to the Lake Forest Police Department Public Safety Building.
He was later transported to the Lake County Jail and appeared for a first appearance court hearing Wednesday morning.
A special prosecutor was appointed to prosecute the case after the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office recused itself.
Court documents show Pena is a family member of an employee who works for the state’s attorney’s office.
Special Prosecutor for the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office Brian Towne said during the Wednesday hearing that his office filed a petition for pre-trial detention in the case.
Towne said “a number of” residential burglaries occurred in the same area as the initial burglary that police received the alarm notification regarding.
Surveillance video showed Pena made entry to one of the residences through a dog door.
When officers arrested Pena, he was covered in dog hair, Towne said.
Other video surveillance showed a person resembling the description of Pena near the residences that were targeted.
Court records show Pena has four prior burglary cases in Lake County alone. Those occurred between 2016 and 2019.
The 2016 case led to Pena being sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
His more recent burglary cases led to a plea deal where he received probation.
Towne said Pena faces mandatory prison time if convicted of his newest charges and also faces extended sentencing due to his priors.
Lake County Judge Raymond Collins found probable cause to hold Pena for a detention hearing.
That hearing is scheduled for Friday afternoon in front of Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak.