News / Comments / (USA) Norwich man accused of taking justice into his own hands sentenced to 18 months

NEW LONDON — A 30-year-old Norwich man accused of brandishing a pistol and punching another man in retaliation for a domestic attack has started serving his sentence.

Christopher Manuel was sentenced Wednesday in New London Superior Court to 18 months in prison followed by three years’ probation.

Originally charged with home invasion, which carries a minimum 10-year prison sentence, Manuel pleaded guilty in September to third-degree burglary and third-degree assault.

“The defendant felt that a wrong had been committed by the victim here,” Assistant State’s Attorney Lawrence Tytla said. “We’re lucky no one was seriously hurt.”

According to a report to a prosecutor from Norwich police, Manuel and Sean Simmons, 30, both members of the Legion of Doom Motorcycle Club and living at its clubhouse on Old Canterbury Turnpike, went to a home on Bridge Street in Norwich at about 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2017, to avenge an attack on Manuel’s sister and another woman there.

Police said Manuel’s sister told Manuel her friend had been attacked by her boyfriend, and the boyfriend also had shoved Manuel’s sister. Both women then left, police said.

The boyfriend told police the two men, whom he didn’t recognize, entered his home, and the one later identified as Manuel ran at him holding a gun and waved it in front of his face. The man later identified as Simmons allegedly restrained another woman that police said was the boyfriend’s stepmother.

Manuel then threw the gun on a couch next to where Simmons was holding down the stepmother, police said, and Manuel punched the boyfriend in the mouth.

The men then left and drove away in Manuel’s car, police said. The stepmother was able to get a partial license plate, which combined with a description of the car, was enough for police to identify Manuel, they said.

Norwich police said they arrested him and Simmons a few hours later, and said Manuel admitted going to the home and punching the boyfriend, but refused to answer questions about anything else, and told police Simmons had waited in the car outside.

“He didn’t go to that house to seek revenge or restitution,” Steven Tomeo, Manuel’s attorney, said at the sentencing. “He thought someone close to him was being held against her will” and then left once he realized his mistake.

Judge Hillary Strackbein, who sentenced Manuel, told him he should have called 911 instead of taking matters into his own hands.

“I think this is an appropriate sentence,” she said.

Simmons pleaded guilty in October to third-degree burglary and second-degree unlawful restraint. He is scheduled to be sentenced to nine months in prison on Jan. 16.

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/20190109/norwich-man-accused-of-taking-justice-into-his-own-hands-sentenced-to-18-months