Man charged in Idaho Falls home invasion

A man Idaho Falls police said broke into a home last month and held a woman at gunpoint is in jail.

Robert A. Lawrence, 19, of Idaho Falls, has been in the Bonneville County Jail since Saturday on a charge of grand theft by possession of four stolen handguns in a separate case.

Now he faces charges of second-degree kidnapping and burglary.

“Mr. Lawrence had an initial appearance today scheduled this afternoon, his rights were read to him and a preliminary hearing was scheduled,” said Bonneville County prosecuting attorney Bruce Pickett. “That hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8.”

Police said Monday that an investigation revealed Lawrence broke into the home on the 2400 block of Blue Camas in the early morning hours of Sept. 14.

Last month, Kelly Blessinger said a window was opened a crack, which an intruder used to get in. Police said the suspect woke Blessinger, at gunpoint, then tied her with rope so tight that it left bruises.

Lawrence stole various items, including her car, police said. The Kia Optima was later recovered.

Blessinger said she is relieved Lawrence was caught, and so are her neighbors, like Shelley Corrigan.

“It was pretty scary and we did take extra precautions,” said Corrigan.

Corrigan, a mother of three, lives just a couple hundred feet away from the intruded home.

“That’s so great they found him that they followed up until they found him,” said Corrigan. “I’m really really happy about that.”