A Chicago man who busted into a Naperville home while already on probation has been handed a 20-year prison sentence, a case prosecutors say shook a suburban neighborhood and sent a clear warning to would-be intruders.
DuPage County Judge Margaret O'Connell imposed the term after a bench trial, finding Adam Stone guilty in connection with the 2022 break-in. Stone has been in custody since shortly after the incident and will remain behind bars for the duration of the sentence.
According to CBS Chicago, O'Connell sentenced 28-year-old Stone, formerly of the Groveland Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, following a two-day bench trial held last spring. Stone has been housed at the DuPage County Jail since Aug. 8, 2022.
How prosecutors say the break-in unfolded
Prosecutors say the chaos started in the early-morning hours of Aug. 6, 2022, when Naperville police responded to a report of a residential break-in and arrived to find several men holding Stone down outside the home.
Authorities allege Stone had broken a basement window to get inside, then fought with people in the house before being pushed back out. Once outside, he is accused of hurling landscaping bricks through the front window and at vehicles in the driveway, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
Stone was charged with home invasion causing injury, along with three counts of criminal damage to property in connection with the incident.
He was on probation at the time
At the time of the Naperville break-in, Stone was already on probation after pleading guilty to aggravated domestic battery in April 2022, officials told CBS Chicago.
Prosecutors and police cited his probation status as a key factor in arguing for a lengthy term behind bars. Stone had earlier been denied bail in the 2022 case and remained in custody through both the trial and sentencing.
Prosecutors say the sentence sends a message
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin framed the outcome as a matter of basic safety at home, saying in a news release that "our homes are our sanctuaries that provide us with safety and security," according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. He said the 20-year term was intended to protect homeowners and help restore public confidence.
Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres also praised the officers and detectives involved in the case, crediting their work on the investigation.
What's next
With sentencing complete, Stone will serve the 20-year prison term ordered by Judge O'Connell. His conviction stems from a bench trial, meaning the judge rather than a jury decided the verdict.
