Trial set for fourth Chicago man in home invasion in Danville

DANVILLE – A fourth man will stand trial in connection with a January home invasion, in which one of the suspects was shot.

Vermilion County Circuit Judge Craig DeArmond on Thursday found probable cause to try 28-year-old David Verner of Chicago on one count of home invasion, a Class X felony.

Verner pleaded innocent to the charge. His jury trial was set for May 28.

Three other Chicago men face charges in connection with the break-in, which occurred on Jan. 13 in a house at 20 S. Buchanan St., Danville.

James E. Hoskins, 48, and DeWayne Thomas, 35, each face one count of home invasion. And Lemon Dudley, 27, who also goes by Lee Green, faces two counts of home invasion and possession of a weapon by a felon, a Class 3 felony.

Their jury trials are set for May 7.

At Verner's preliminary hearing, Danville police Detective Bruce Stark testified that police tracked Verner down through cell phone records, and one of the suspects identified him as being involved.

According to Stark, Verner later said in an interview with police that he and the other suspects planned the break-in in Chicago, then drove to Danville to carry it out. Verner said two of the men were supposed to go up to the house to look inside and see if their intended victim was there. Instead, they went inside.

"That's when the shots were fired," Stark said. He said Verner told them he was the lookout for the men who broke in.

When police were called, they found one of the suspects lying on the sidewalk in front of the house. He was shot, but his injuries weren't life-threatening.

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