Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Bessemer — A New London, Wis., man pleaded guilty to a pair of felonies for his role in a December home invasion in Marenisco Township in Gogebic County Circuit Court Tuesday.
Todd Matthew Norton, 48, pleaded guilty to first-degree home invasion and assault with intent to do great bodily harm for his role in the home invasion and robbery.
The plea came as part of a plea agreement that will have charges of armed robbery, possessing a weapon while committing a felony and being a felon in possession of a weapon dismissed at sentencing.
Norton also admitted to being a habitual offender-second offense, which increases the maximum possible sentences he faces.
Prosecutor Nick Jacobs is also recommending Norton serve the sentences for the two felonies concurrently as part of the plea agreement.
During the plea hearing, Norton testified he was one of five people who drove to an East Shore Road property near Lake Gogebic on Dec. 18, 2018.
Norton said he and two other men used a credit card to break in through the front door. Norton woke the property owner up by hitting him on the head with the butt of a pistol he found on the counter, and then the group tied the man up and threw a blanket over him.
Norton told Judge Michael Pope the group wanted to “get all of his gold and silver that he had,” as well as any money they found.
Norton said he didn’t know if he hurt the man when he hit him with the pistol but didn’t think he hit him that hard.
The property owner was later able to free himself and alert police, leading to an unsuccessful search of the area and the execution of a search warrant in the city of Ironwood.
Norton and several co-defendants in the case were later arrested in Wisconsin and charged in connection to the home invasion.
Norton is scheduled to be sentenced June 18.
