Suspect in Cass Co. Michigan home invasion convicted

CASS COUNTY, Mich. -- A 19-year-old Elkhart man was convicted of conspiracy to commit home invasion and home invasion second degree after a bench trial.

Deon Dominique Goodwin was accused of breaking into a residence on Ashton Road in the Edwardsburg area on April 9, 2014 with two other people.

The homeowner came home in the late morning and discovered three men walking out from the rear of his home and run to a red Mitsubishi SUV in his driveway.

They told the homeowner they needed directions to South Bend.

Suspicious, the homeowner contacted police and followed the men until he lost them.

The homeowner returned home to find his back door was smashed open and several doors inside were open, although they had been closed earlier.

Cass County Sheriff's deputies and the Edwardsburg-Ontwa Twp. Police Department located the red Mitsubishi abandoned and out of gas at a home on Adamsville Road.

The three men were located in a nearby corn field and arrested.

Goodwin denied being part of the home invasion or having anything to do with the red SUV.

He gave three different stories to investigators when questioned.

Inside the Mitsubishi, investigators found Goodwin's debit card and cell phone and a selfie of Goodwin on the phone.

Goodwin faces up to 15 years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 1.