Champaign man charged with stealing from frat house, assaulting ex-girlfriend

Sam Lisec, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
·2 min read

Mar. 15—URBANA — A Champaign man was charged Thursday with stealing from a University of Illinois frat house last week and committing domestic battery in another incident last month.

Champaign County Judge Chad Beckett arraigned Michael A. Barrett, 47, on charges of residential burglary, domestic battery and aggravated domestic battery involving strangulation.

Barrett was also charged with violating an order of protection with having previously already violated an order of protection.

Assistant State's Attorney Chris McCallum said UI police responded to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house last Tuesday for a report of a burglary. A student told officers a backpack he left in the living room was now gone.

A surveillance camera in the area captured a man entering the fraternity house and leaving with two backpacks containing computers and notebooks, McCallum said.

A photo of the suspect was circulated by police, and an MTD employee recognized the man at the Illinois Terminal wearing the same hoodie as seen in the video. Once arrested, Barrett allegedly admitted to entering the fraternity house and told officers he was forced to take the items.

In another incident, Urbana police were called to the Urbana UHaul storage facility on Feb. 15. A caller told police that her mother was being held against her will by her ex-boyfriend, McCallum said.

On scene, police allegedly observed Barrett in the driver seat of a vehicle and a woman in the passenger seat. The woman told officers she feared for her life, it was her vehicle, and Barrett refused to give her her car keys and let her leave, the prosecutor said.

Barrett allegedly punched the woman in the face and put his forearm on her neck so she could not breathe. He admitted to officers that they were in an argument that got violent, and he pushed and grabbed the woman before blacking out, McCallum said.

Barrett was charged with violating an existing order of protection on Feb. 20 by allegedly sending threatening texts to a woman about her and her family.

Barrett faces four to 15 years in prison if convicted of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. He faces between seven and 14 years in prison if convicted of the domestic battery as he is eligible for enhanced sentencing.

Barrett is next scheduled to appear in court on April 2.