URBANA — Losing a television, cell phone and two laptop computers, one with information vital to his work, was bad enough.
But David Ikenberry of Champaign said to have his home invaded while he and his family slept was much worse.
“What we really lost was our sense of comfort,” he told a Champaign County judge Wednesday.
Ikenberry was one of at least 12 victims whose homes were burgled last summer by an Urbana teen, described as a young man who thrives in structure but who falls apart when left to his own devices.
Judge Tom Difanis sentenced Damario King, 19, who listed an address in the 1400 block of Briarcliff Drive, to 11 years in prison for two residential burglary convictions, including one to Ikenberry’s house on Greencroft Drive, and one for possession of a stolen vehicle to which King pleaded guilty in December.
Noting the many letters of support for King, Difanis said what the youth did was not simply a series of “mistakes” but “serious felonies.”
King faced a mandatory prison term of between four and 15 years in prison for the home break-ins but could have received drug treatment. Assistant Public Defender Jamie Propps argued King needed help dealing with his use of alcohol, marijuana, Ecstasy and cocaine.
To aggravate King’s sentence, Assistant State’s Attorney Duke Harris had Champaign police detectives Mark Vogelzang and Robb Morris testify about their interaction with King.
Vogelzang said that after Urbana police developed King as a suspect in a stolen vehicle case in late August, he and another Champaign detective interviewed King about several residential burglaries in south and southwest Champaign that occurred earlier in the summer.
“He drove around with us and pointed out the houses he hit,” said Vogelzang, describing King as very cooperative and respectful.
Vogelzang said King told him that he selected homes in wealthier subdivisions that had two stories and would enter them, either through unlocked doors or by burning holes in screens, between 1 and 2 a.m. when he felt confident that the residents would be sleeping on upper floors.
He stole small items easily carried, like laptop computers, small televisions, iPods, cell phones, cameras, video games, and cash.
Homes on Sangamon, Bluestem, Cypress Creek, Prestwick, Windward, Mill Creek, Dorchester, Crail, Wilshire and Greencroft were among those that King admitted breaking into, Vogelzang testified.
Morris said on Aug. 31, he arrested King for residential burglary and drove him to the satellite jail. As Morris was attempting to get clearance to drive into the sallyport, King freed one hand from his handcuffs, unbuckled his seat belt and ran. Morris caught him within minutes.
Harris argued that King’s running, along with a prior juvenile adjudication for residential burglary from 2006, showed that King has little rehabilitative potential.
King told the judge he knew what he did was wrong but asked for leniency so he can be with his son, who was born Dec. 24.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services