An 11-year-old West Chicago girl awoke in the middle of the night in October 2006 to find a man in her bedroom armed with a 2-foot cord, a roll of tape and a pair of scissors.
She screamed when he attempted to tape her mouth. He fled, authorities said.

Alejandro De La Salle, 30, 317 E. Blair St., West Chicago, was convicted Tuesday in DuPage County Circuit Court of charges including 12 counts of home invasion, a Class X felony. Judge Michael Burke made the ruling.

De La Salle broke into the home in the 1000 block of Elizabeth Avenue at about 2:15 a.m. Oct. 9, 2006, believing he was entering the house of his estranged girlfriend, authorities said. He reportedly found an unlocked window and entered the home after slitting the screen.

Family members contacted police after hearing the girl scream. De La Salle fled before the family reached her room, authorities said.

West Chicago police said they located De La Salle about 20 minutes later with help from the Warrenville Police Department’s canine unit.

“Her instinct scream for help forced her attacker to flee before he could do any further harm,” State’s Attorney Joe Birkett said in a written statement. “That instinct, coupled with the swift action of the West Chicago and Warrenville police departments, helped get this dangerous man off the streets where he will be unable to prey upon anyone else in the middle of the night.”

De La Salle remains in custody in DuPage County Jail. In addition to the home invasions charges, he was found guilty of one count of residential burglary, two counts of unlawful restraint, two counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and three counts of criminal trespassing to a residence.

He will appear in court Wednesday, Nov. 14, for a pre-sentencing hearing and could face from 30 to 60 years in prison.