Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
A seven-time convicted felon allegedly climbed construction scaffolding to enter a seventh-floor condo in downtown Chicago early Monday, only to be confronted by a woman who lives there and then detained by her gun-owning fiancé.
Juan Gonzalez, also known as Javier Rosales, is on parole for his sixth and seventh felony convictions. Now, he’s charged with Class X felony home invasion.
Around 3:10 a.m., a woman woke up and started getting ready for work in her Loop condo, which had scaffolding rising outside the balcony door. She thought she heard noises while going about her routine, but she assumed it was coming from another unit, prosecutor Rhianna Biernat said.
The woman was about to leave when she entered the bathroom and came face to face with Gonzalez, who immediately punched her in the eye, according to Biernat. The woman pushed back, fell to the ground, and began fighting Gonazlez while yelling for her still-sleeping fiancé.
He pushed Gonzalez off the woman and told her to get his gun. She did. And they both held Gonzalez until Chicago police arrived.
Officers found a crowbar in Gonzalez’s waistband and two screwdrivers in his backpack, Biernat said. He allegedly had some of the couple’s property in his pants pockets, including a watch, keys, two packs of cigarettes, an antique coin, a small box of cannabis, and an electric candle remote control.
Biernat said Gonzalez was convicted of burglary in 2008, 2009, 2015, and twice in 2017. He’s currently on parole for the 2017 cases and has two non-burglary felony convictions.
Assistant Public Defender Patrick Shine said Gonzalez, 42, is a high school graduate with a 15-year-old child.
Judge Barbara Dawkins ordered Gonzalez held without bail at the state’s request. She also held him without bail until the Illinois Department of Corrections reviews his parole status.