URBANA — An Urbana man was arraigned on charges that accuse him of breaking into a home last week and stealing a television, generator and 20 pairs of shoes.
Champaign County Judge Brett Olmstead ruled that Eric Knight, 32, may await his pending trial outside of jail after he was charged last week with one count of residential burglary.
Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Reynolds said Urbana police were dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of East Michigan Avenue around 1:30 p.m. April 18 for a report of a residential burglary.
A resident told police that someone had entered their home by breaking down the back door. Officers observed that the back door was pushed in on broken hinges and the padlock was also broken off from the interior.
A neighbor also told police that they heard banging noises from the residence earlier that morning, but hadn’t looked to see what it was.
A Roku television, Ryobi generator, 20 pairs of sneakers and miscellaneous jewelry and cologne bottles were all missing from inside the home. The resident estimated that the property was worth a combined $5,200.
An Urbana officer on scene had allegedly encountered Knight during a prior case that involved a hit-and-run investigation. The officer observed property in the backseat of Knight’s car that included a large flatscreen television, a generator and several pairs of shoes, Reynolds said.
The officer showed the resident pictures from his body-worn camera, and the resident allegedly identified the property as his.
Interviewed by police, Knight denied stealing the items and claimed it was property he had taken from his own shed, Reynolds said. But Knight’s girlfriend allegedly told police that she believed the property was stolen and gave officers permission to search their home.
Officers did not recover any stolen property from that search, Reynolds said, but the girlfriend later called police to say she had found an ID, a debit card and prescription medication all in the victim’s name.
The state petitioned to detain Knight ahead of his pending trial, but Olmstead denied that request.
Knight faces four to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. He is next scheduled to appear in court in May.
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