Prosecutors say a convicted felon committed a residential burglary by forcing entry to a Fox Lake home and gouging the eyes of a resident who was inside.
Daniel R. Calderon, 45, whose last known address is unknown, was charged with residential burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Fox Lake Police Department responded around 2:30 a.m. on September 17 to a home on Matts Road for a disturbance.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said officers met with a male victim, who reported that Calderon had stayed at his home the prior day before being asked to leave the residence.
Calderon returned around 2:30 a.m. and started yelling for them to let him inside so he could get his belongings, McConnell said.
The victim and his girlfriend told Calderon that he needed to wait for the police and he was not allowed to come inside.
McConnell said Calderon kicked the door open and grabbed the male victim, pulling him outside the home.
Calderon began gouging the victim’s eyes and attacking him by striking him in the backyard, McConnell said. The victim had a blood spot in his eyes.
McConnell said there is an “extremely high probability” of significant damage occurring when someone has their eyes gouged.
“It is clear that the defendant’s intention of breaking into the home was a battery causing great bodily harm,” McConnell said, adding that Calderon had the opportunity to get his belongings after breaking down the door but instead chose to attack the victim.
Calderon recently served prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Lake Villa. He also has convictions for burglary, aggravated battery and robbery of a handicapped victim.
A public defender said Calderon was renting a room from the victims and comes and goes from the residence. The attorney said Calderon had injuries to his face after the victim beat him up.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted a petition to detain Calderon filed by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office after reading through his criminal history.
The judge said he did not feel that Calderon would adhere to any conditions of release and ordered him held pending trial.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 16.