URBANA – An Urbana man was charged on Monday with home invasion and armed robbery in the case of an elderly woman who was trapped for days in a closet.

Steven E. Taylor, 20, who listed an address in the 1300 block of East Michigan Avenue, Urbana, was charged with two counts of home invasion and one count of armed robbery. If convicted, Taylor could be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.

Taylor is being held at the Champaign County Jail on $250,000 bond.

Taylor asked for more time to hire an attorney. Judge John Kennedy set Taylor's next court appearance for March 22.

On Jan. 24, Urbana police officers went to a home in the 1500 block of East Fairlawn Drive, Urbana, to check on the welfare of an elderly resident.

They discovered the 79-year-old woman had been barricaded against her will inside a bedroom closet. The woman reported she had been locked in the closet since Jan. 21.

The woman told police she had answered a knock at her door and a man who identified himself as "Steve" asked for "Jack Brown." When the victim denied knowing anyone by that name, the suspect forced his way into the home and brandished a knife. He demanded valuables and ultimately beat her before putting her in a closet and barricading her inside the closet with a heavy piece of furniture, police said.

The victim had suffered injuries to her face and head, police said.

According to court documents, Taylor allegedly took jewelry and other personal property from the home.

Police arrested Taylor on Friday after locating him on the sidewalk in the 900 block of South Lierman Avenue, Urbana.

Staff writer Mary Schenk contributed to this story.