Juan Cruz, who was scheduled to go on trial Monday for his role in a New London home invasion to which his twin brother and two female accomplices had already pleaded guilty, entered his own guilty plea after jurors had assembled in Superior Court for his trial.

Cruz, 38, of New London, pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of first-degree burglary. He will be sentenced July 1 to six years in prison, followed by four years of special parole. He has been held on a $99,000 cash bond since city police charged him with forcing his way into an apartment at 37 Blackhall St. in New London on March 30, 2014, punching the resident and stealing a PlayStation gaming console, two pairs of Nike sneakers and $35 in cash.

While Cruz initially rejected a plea offer from prosecutor David J. Smith and said he wanted a trial, his twin, Ricardo Cruz, accepted an offer last month and will sentenced June 16 to seven years in prison followed by six years of special parole. Jessica Annello, 31, and Naines Oliver, 28, both pleaded guilty last year and were sentenced to four years in prison.

The prosecutor and defense attorney Theodore Koch had selected a jury, and the trial was scheduled to begin Monday before Judge Barbeara Bailey Jongbloed when Cruz decided to plead guilty. He had changed from his prison uniform and was wearing a Navy blue business suit when he appeared before Judge Hillary B. Strackbein to enter his guilty plea. He pleaded under the Alford Doctrine, which means he disagrees with the state's allegations but does not want to risk the possiblity of a lengthier sentence if convicted at trial. 

According to New London police, the two men and two women approached an elderly man as he took out a bag of trash. One of the men said he owed them $40, and victim told him he was mistaken. The victim said the quartet followed him into the house before he could close and lock the door. He said they entered his room and stole a PlayStation gaming console, two pairs of Nike sneakers and $35 in cash. 

Cruz punched the victim in the mouth while his brother struck the man in the back of the head with a metal object. The twins each were wearing a pair of the stolen sneakers when taken into custody.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN