Urbana man accused of kicking in another's door, beating him

URBANA — An Urbana man has been charged in an incident earlier this month in which someone broke into a man's home and beat him.

Champaign County Judge Brett Olmstead ruled this week that Rodney K. Love, 23, may await his pending trial outside of jail after he was charged with one count of home invasion causing injury.

Assistant State’s Attorney Toby Ortega said on May 5, Urbana police were called to Fire Station 2 at 2103 S. Philo Road after the injured victim went there. Before the man was transferred to Carle Foundation Hospital for treatment, he told police that someone had kicked in his door and beaten him.

He also gave officers permission to go inside his residence in the 2000 block of South Philo Road. There, officers found the home’s door kicked in and blood on the floor and on several pieces of furniture throughout the apartment.

At the hospital, the victim told police he had allowed a man who goes by the name “Righteous” to briefly stay in his house since he is homeless.

He said when he no longer allowed “Righteous” to stay in his home, the latter got upset and attacked him, with the beating mostly taking place in the kitchen but spanning several rooms.

The victim said "Righteous" then left and he walked to the fire station since he couldn’t immediately find his phone.

Officers knew that Love goes by the alias of “Righteous,” Ortega said, but did not identify him through a photo lineup before arresting him.

In denying the state's petition to have Love detained in jail, Olmstead ruled that the defendant must

Love faces six to 30 years in prison if he is convicted of home invasion, a Class X felony. His next court appearance is set for next month.