(KNSI) – A 20-year-old Oak Park man has been sentenced to five years’ probation for his role in a violent home invasion in Wright County.
Ethan Weckman pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary after admitting he drove three others to a Clearwater home on February 13th with the intent to assault the homeowner’s daughter.
According to the criminal complaint, Weckman and three accomplices arrived at the residence around 1:00 p.m. When they got there, a woman inside called 911 to report a home invasion and burglary in progress, telling dispatchers she heard her father screaming for help and found him wrestling with an intruder.
The homeowner said he heard his patio door open and saw two men dressed entirely in black heading toward his bedroom. He confronted them as they walked out onto the deck and grabbed one as they tried to jump over the railing. The struggle continued back inside the house when the second burglar joined the assault. During the fight, the homeowner grabbed an object and tried to stab one of the suspects before they fled.
A neighbor also heard the commotion and called 911. He followed the getaway car and provided dispatchers with specific details about the vehicle, including the license plate number.
According to court documents, Wright County investigators traced the license plate to Weckman, who lives in Oak Park, located between Foley and Milaca. They contacted the Benton County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a vehicle check at his residence.
When a deputy arrived at Weckman’s address and found him standing outside the car, Weckman ran into the house and refused to come out. Several agencies, including the Stearns/Benton County SWAT team, were called for a standoff. After a couple of hours, SWAT entered the home and took Weckman into custody.
Investigators also took a statement from a woman who said she was with Weckman that day when he picked up two friends named Shawn and “Zay” in Big Lake. She said the four of them went to Clearwater, where she stayed in the car while the three men got out. When they returned, Shawn was “visibly injured.” She told investigators Weckman dropped off Shawn and “Zay” before returning to his house, where the Benton County deputy was waiting.
In his sworn statement, Weckman admitted to driving the others to the Clearwater house for the sole purpose of allowing Shawn to assault the homeowner’s daughter. He said he got out of the car with the other two and went to the house, then heard the confrontation and returned to the car to pick up Shawn and “Zay” before fleeing the scene.
Weckman was sentenced this month and received credit for 72 days already spent in jail.
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