Police: Pawn of Camera Links Felon to River Forest Burglary

River Forest Police have charged a 60-year-old paroled felon in connection with a residential burglary that took place in March.

Vito Spiezio was charged with two counts of felony theft after an investigation by local police and the Chicago Police Department's Pawn Shop Unit yielded information that Spiezio had pawned a stolen camera, authorities said.

Investigators said the camera was among the items taken from a residence in the 1300 block of Jackson Avenue on March 5. Spiezio was arrested early Friday outside his home in the 3900 block of West Gladys Ave. in Chicago.

Authorities said Spiezio, a registered member of the Latin Kings street gang, has a lengthy criminal record. According to TribLocal, he was convicted of burglary in 1979 and was arrested in 1984 in connection with the attempted murder of two police officers and escaped from Cook County Jail while awaiting trail.

He was convicted in 1984 of escaping from the jail, which added another seven years to his existing 12-year sentence. He also has numerous convictions for burglary and theft, according to police.

Spiezio served as a key prosecution witness in the fatal beating of a prison guard in 1989, who was attacked by two inmates. Spiezio testified against the two inmates, but denied involvement in the beating, according to newspaper reports.

According to the IIllinois Department of Corrections website, Spiezio was paroled in November 2010. A preliminary hearing is set for May 19 at the Maybrook courthouse.