Teen gets 20 years probation in burglary case

Published 10:24 am Friday, March 3, 2017

An Austin teen has been sentenced to 20 years of supervised probation for breaking into a residence, threatening a resident and taking items from him.

Matthew Jack Clennon, 19, was sentenced Thursday in Mower County District Court to 20 years of probation for felony first-degree robbery. He also must follow 26 conditions, serve 100 hours of community service and pay $799 in restitution. He received credit for 160 days served in jail.

Two other felony charges — second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and first-degree burglary with a dangerous weapon — and a count of misdemeanor theft — were dismissed as part of a plea agreement reached last December.

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According to a court complaint, Austin police responded to a report of an armed robbery on the 600 block of Main Street at about 8:05 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2016.

The victim, who had abrasions and marks on his knees and a cut on his nose, told police Clennon had discussed moving in with him, but he told him he did not want him to move in.

Clennon then told the victim his car wouldn’t start and was parked at a bank, but the victim went inside to sleep.

The victim woke later to his bedroom door being kicked in before Clennon allegedly pointed a gun at him and told him to “give me all your [expletive deleted].”

The two struggled when Clennon tried to take a laptop before Clennon allegedly struck the victim with the weapon. The victim then told Clennon to take whatever he wanted, and he took a watch, cash, cigarettes and prescription for Xanax, but the victim would not let him take his wallet or computer.

The victim said Clennon was on the phone as he was leaving and threatened to come back with others, making the victim fear he was going to kill him.

Officers located Clennon’s truck and started surveillance before a Pontiac Grand Am came to the scene around 9:18 p.m. with four people inside, including Clennon.

He was arrested and reportedly told police, “The pellet gun is in my truck.”

The friends told a detective Clennon called them after the incident and said he “stole a bunch of stuff from this kid.” They told police he had described the incident and was even on the phone with one when kicking in the door.

Upon further investigation, police found that a Crown Royal bag containing illegal narcotics and paraphernalia, LSD, THC wax and Adderall had also been taken.

Officers searched the two vehicles and found a small amount of cocaine, Adderall and empty capsules, and a .177-caliber pistol in Clennon’s truck. In the Grand Am, officers found the Crown Royal bag and various controlled substances, including LSD, Adderall, a digital scale, THC wax and a grinder.