Bond was set Monday at $1.5 million for a South American man charged with breaking into an Oak Brook home Friday evening.
Anibal Miller-Valencia, 21, was charged with one count of home invasion, a Class X Felony, and one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 Felony. If convicted, Miller-Valencia faces serving 6-30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to information from DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. Miller-Valencia’s bond was set by Judge Joseph Bugos. Miller-Valencia’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 6 for arraignment in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
Oak Brook police responded to a call of a home invasion on the 400 block of Luthin Road at 6:38 p.m. Friday. Upon arrival, officers spoke to a teenage girl who was home alone at the time of the incident, police said in a release.
An investigation revealed that Miller-Valencia and two unknown accomplices reportedly drove to a nearby forest preserve parking lot and parked their car, police said. Police believe that the accomplices left the vehicle while Miller-Valencia waited behind.
Police also believe that at approximately 6:30 p.m., the accomplices went to the home on Luthin Road, broke a rear glass door and entered the home. While they were in the home, the girl reportedly hid behind a door, and after a short time, the two men fled into a nearby wooded area.
While investigating the incident, officers found Miller-Valencia in the forest preserve parking lot sitting in the driver’s seat of the car with the engine running, police said. He was arrested and taken into custody.
“I can’t imagine the terror this young victim must have felt when she heard glass breaking and unknown voices in her house while she was home alone,” Berlin said in the release. “Everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home, but for this young victim, that sense of safety has now been shattered.
“The type of violent behavior alleged in this case also has a crippling effect on the entire community. Thanks to the quick response of the Oak Brook Police Department, one of the individuals suspected in this case is now in custody and if found guilty is facing a significant amount of time behind bars.”
Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis said the department’s officers always work diligently to keep the community safe.
“A person’s home should be their safe haven, and this incident violated that space,” he said.” I’m incredibly proud of our response to this incident and coordinated efforts of 21 other police agencies that responded to assist.”
Strockis said the assisting departments responded with officers, drones, K-9′s and a helicopter.
“The response was quick and impressive,” he said, while giving kudos to Oak Brook detectives who worked on the case throughout the weekend with Berlin and his office.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
