Fennelly
MILFORD — A Derby man will be sentenced to six years in prison for forcing his way into a Derby Avenue home and assaulting two men.
Justin Fennelly, 21, pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree burglary before Judge Frank Iannotti Wednesday (July 25) at Superior Court in Milford.
In court, Assistant State’s Attorney Cornelius Kelly said the incident occurred about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 25, 2017 at a multi-family Derby Avenue house.
The people living there told cops that someone had knocked on the door, so they opened it slightly, only for two men wearing bandanas around their faces to force it open and enter the home.
The two suspects assaulted one man in a common area of the home, cutting him on his head.
They then made their way to the bedroom of another man living at the home. The prosecutor said the second victim was the target of the assault, but didn’t offer a motive for the crime.
“They forcefully knocked down the second victim’s bedroom door, forced him to the ground, (and) struck him several times with a PVC pipe,” Kelly said.
The second man was struck several times on the head and legs, according to a police report in the case.
The victims recognized Fennelly, who lived down the street at the time and frequented the area. Fennelly admitted the assault when questioned by police.
An offer from the judge will see Fennelly sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be suspended after he serves six years, followed by five years of probation.
Judge Iannotti continued the case to Oct. 5 for sentencing. Fennelly has been locked up since his arrest hours after the incident.
Derby Police Lt. Salvatore Frosceno said Thursday (July 26) police have not identified the second suspect in the case.
