A man who used a staple gun and lifting weight to assault another man in a home invasion was jailed Tuesday.
Ted Michael Mollon, 53, of Rocky Mountain House pleaded guilty to three charges and was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison when he appeared in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench.
Mollon pleaded guilty to break and enter, assault with a weapon and uttering death threats in connection with the Oct. 26, 2008, incident at a residence near Stauffer.
Crown prosecutor Maurice Collard told Justice Kirk Sisson that Mollon and two other men kicked down two locked doors about 7:30 p.m. seeking to steal the victim’s wallet and beer.
They first smashed a stereo he was listening to, then confined him to a chair.
They punched him several times before Mollon took the stapler and stapled the victim’s head twice and his chest once.
He also smashed him on the head three times with a seven-kilogram weight.
The victim suffered extensive blood loss and bruising.
At one point Mollon kicked the victim’s small, 14-year-old Chinese Pug dog in the face.
They then threatened to cut the man’s fingers off and kill members of his family if he told police.
The victim contacted police two days later.
Ryan Szewczyk 34, of the Rocky area was jailed for 3 1/2 years earlier when he pleaded guilty prior to a preliminary hearing held last summer.
Mollon was set to start a two-day trial before changing his plea.
A third accused had his charges dismissed earlier.
Sisson also heard Mollon spent 45 days in pre-trial custody before he was released on bail.
However, that jail time wasn’t part of the plea bargain worked out between Collard and defence lawyer Norm Clair.
Mollon apologized to the victim who was present in court.
Sisson said Parliament has deemed home invasions as serious crimes punishable by a maximum of life in jail.
He said the act displayed excessive cruelty, was hostile and the accused had an uncaring attitude toward the victim.
Mollon is also prohibited for life from owning firearms or explosives and must surrender a sample of his DNA to police.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com