WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that William Hancock, 28 (d.o.b. 07/17/1979) Lempster, New Hampshire, was sentenced to fifteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for an early morning home invasion of a Glendale Heights home.  Hancock entered a plea of guilty to one count of Home Invasion Armed With a Dangerous Weapon, a Class X Felony, today in front of Judge Michael Burke.

            The charges and ultimate sentencing stem from allegations that at approximately 5 a.m. on July 17, 2006, Hancock and an accomplice, Gregory Martin 25, (d.o.b. 06/28/1981) of Woodridge, broke into the Glendale Heights home while the family slept.  When one of the victims awoke to find Hancock and Martin in the hallway, the men ordered the entire family onto the bed in the master bedroom and told them to be quiet.    Martin was armed with a gun while Hancock was armed with a cleaver.  Both men disguised their identities with wigs, surgical masks and gloves.  When one of the victims called police on their cellular phone, the assailants fled the scene.  On December 19, 2007, Martin entered a blind plea of Guilty to one count of Home Invasion Armed With a Firearm, a Class X Felony, one count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Kidnapping, a Class 1 Felony and one count of Attempted Escape, a Class 3 Felony.

            On January 7, 2007, Martin’s wife, Larisa Sazhin Martin, 30, was sentenced to six years in IDOC after admitting she was the getaway driver for the two men.

            “I am very pleased with the sentence Mr. Hancock received today,” commented Birkett.  “These men victimized an entire family in a place where they should feel most secure, in their own home.  I would like to thank the Glendale Heights Police Department, in particular Detective Charles May, for their help in holding these individuals responsible for this brazen attack on an innocent family.”

            Martin’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 18. 

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