Former Naperville Man Found Guilty in 2011 Home Invasion, Domestic Battery

A 36-year-old Naperville man was convicted Friday of illegally entering the home of his estranged wife in 2011 and beating her, officials said.

A jury found Kenny Edwards guilty of home invasion and domestic battery, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin announced in a news release. The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before returning their verdict in front of Judge George Bakalis, who presided over the four-day long trial.

"In the early morning hours of October 30, 2011, Kenny Edwards illegally entered into his estranged wife’s home," Berlin said in a prepared statement. "Once inside, he proceeded to beat her. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and when an intruder violates the sanctity of an individual’s home, as we saw in this case, they will face significant consequences."

At about 6:15 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2011, Naperville Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a woman’s home in Naperville. Upon their arrival, police found the woman at her neighbor’s home. The woman told police Edwards had entered into her home without permission earlier that morning while she was in her bedroom. 

The woman told police that Edwards beat her with his fists and two chairs, breaking one over her body, the news release said. Edwards was located shortly afterward and arrested. He has remained in custody since his arrest, being held on $200,000 bond.

"I would like to thank the Naperville Police Department for their quick apprehension of Mr. Edwards and for their assistance throughout this case," Berlin said. "I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Amanda Meindl and Louisa Nuckolls for their outstanding work in holding Mr. Edwards for his outrageous conduct."

Home invasion is a class X felony punishable by up to six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Edwards’ next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 9, for return of the pre-sentencing report.

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