Armed with a knife, Modesto man tried to break into neighbor’s home and threatened to kill family inside

A 48-year-old Modesto man has been convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for trying to break into his neighbor’s home while the family was asleep inside.

Luis Avila on June 29 pleaded no contest to one count of burglary of an occupied home.

His conviction is considered a strike under the state’s “Three Strikes” law, which can be used to double a prison sentence if Avila is convicted again of certain felonies. Deputy District Attorney Sean Doering prosecuted the case.

Shortly after midnight on Jan. 20, Avila grabbed a knife and went to his neighbor’s home. Prosecutors said Avila tried to break-in through house’s two doors, waking the family sleeping inside.

Avila then went to a window, threatened to kill the family inside and broke the window, according to prosecutors. Police arrived and took Avila into custody shortly after.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Armed with a knife, Modesto man tried to break into neighbor’s home and threatened to kill family inside."