Man sentenced to 34 years for May 2011 home invasion on Atwood Avenue

Online Staff Report

Luis Avila, 23, was sentenced by Judge Rosemary Collins to 28 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of home invasion and six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense aggravated unauthorized use of a weapon. The defendant pled guilty to the offenses July 9.

May 25, 2011, Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home invasion in progress on Atwood Avenue in Rockford. The 67-year-old victim had an open line with 911, and the suspects could be heard by 911. The suspects fled the house when deputies arrived and one suspect, later identified as Luis I. Avila, was caught and taken into custody.

Avila was identified as having pointed a weapon at the victim while making demands. May 26, 2011, detectives conducted a search of the area where Avila was taken into custody, and located a loaded 9 mm Ruger P89 handgun with a laser sight attached to it. The defendant did not possess a valid FOID card.

Home invasion is a class X felony with a sentencing range of six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, because of the age of the victim, extended term applies, increasing the sentencing range to six to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon is a class 4 felony with a sentencing range of one to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, because the weapon had a laser sight attached, extended term sentencing applies, increasing the sentencing range to one to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Posted Sept. 27, 2012