Man Pleads Not Guilty to Breaking into Venice Home, Prompting Resident to Climb on Roof

A Los Angeles man was charged today with breaking into the home of a Venice woman, who escaped by climbing onto her roof.

Christian Broyles Hicks, 29, pleaded not guilty this afternoon to one count of first-degree burglary with a person present.

He allegedly broke into the woman’s residence while she was home on Wednesday morning, prompting her to flee to the roof and call police, who quickly arrested him.

The criminal complaint alleges that Hicks was convicted in 2008 of carrying an unregistered loaded handgun and in 2011 of corporal injury to a spouse, cohabitant or child’s parent.

Hicks is due back in court Oct. 10, when a hearing is scheduled to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to eight years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

--City News Service

PHOTO Patch file photo.