Judge sends men to jail for Plymouth home invasion

NORRISTOWN » A Montgomery County judge sent two Philadelphia men to jail for their roles in a home invasion robbery at a Plymouth Township residence.

Walter Mattis, 19, of the 7200 block of Gillespie Street, and Jason Price Hutton Jr., 19, of the 4200 block of Lawnside Road, each was sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in the county jail in connection with the 8:26 a.m. Aug. 8, 2017, home invasion in the 300 block of Cambridge Road in Plymouth.

Mattis, who pleaded guilty to felony charges of robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery or burglary, also must complete seven years’ probation, following parole, for a total of about nine years of court supervision, according to the sentence imposed by Judge Todd D. Eisenberg.

Hutton, who pleaded guilty to felony charges of robbery, burglary, person not to possess a firearm and conspiracy to commit robbery or burglary, also must complete eight years’ probation, following parole, for a total period of about 10 years of court supervision.

Mattis and Hutton were 18 at the time of the incident.

“I’d like to apologize. I’m extremely sorry,” Mattis said before learning his fate from the judge.

Defense lawyer William Davis argued for leniency on behalf of Mattis, emphasizing Mattis had a difficult childhood that included a serious brain injury.

“This was a really brutal home invasion,” said Assistant District Attorney John N. Gradel, who did tell the judge that Mattis’ role in the home invasion was minor and that his cooperation with authorities helped lead to guilty pleas from others more culpable in the plot.

The judge warned Mattis “you only get one chance” and said if Mattis violates the sentence he will send Mattis to state prison.

“If you blow it, I won’t hesitate. I will send you upstate. I hope that’s enough to keep you on the straight and narrow,” Eisenberg addressed Mattis.

Mattis and Hutton were two of four men accused of taking part in the home invasion.

Anthony Thomas Ferliano, 32, of Philadelphia, who prosecutors alleged was more culpable in the crime, previously pleaded guilty to robbery and weapons-related charges and was sentenced to nine to 20 years in state prison.

Anthony Sabatino, 23, of Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty to charges of robbery, burglary, possession of a prohibited weapon and conspiracy, and is awaiting sentencing.

With the charges, authorities alleged the four men went into the home and threatened the owner with death if he didn’t hand over valuables.

Investigators, according to court documents, reported seeing at least two of the home invaders with guns. Authorities alleged it was Sabatino and Ferliano who possessed the guns.

Mattis did not possess a gun during the incident, according to prosecutors.

All four men were taken into custody following the incident during which Montgomery County SWAT teams were deployed.

The victim and sole occupant of the residence, described as a man in his late 60s or early 70s, survived the ordeal with minor injuries.

The investigation began when neighbors notified township police that men were seen knocking on the front and rear doors of the victim’s home before more men, wearing masks, broke into the residence through a front window.

Plymouth police established a perimeter around the home. At one point, police observed two males, Mattis and Hutton, running from the home, according to the criminal complaint filed by Plymouth Township Detective Anthony Costello. At that time, Mattis and Hutton were taken into custody by police.

A short time later, police observed the homeowner, who managed to escape, flee from the home, according to the arrest affidavit.

Investigators determined there were two armed men who remained in the home and the Montgomery County Special Weapons and Tactic Team, Central Region, responded to the area when the other suspects refused to come out of the home.

Following a three-hour standoff during which officers intermittently used a loudspeaker to order the barricaded suspects out of the house, they surrendered.

During the investigation, police recovered a 9mm semiautomatic handgun that had been reported stolen in Philadelphia, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim told investigators the suspects entered his home and confronted him in a front room.

“I spoke with the victim on scene who reported hearing a noise coming from the front of his home. Victim stated that he went to investigate and discovered two masked males in the foyer of his home,” Costello wrote in the criminal complaint. “Victim stated that the males held him at gunpoint and demanded money. Victim stated that the males hit him in the head and put the gun inside of his mouth.

“Victim stated that the males continued to demand that he give them money and made threats to kill him if he did not comply. Victim stated that he was fearful that the males would follow through with their threats and he surrendered a container of change and his wallet,” Costello alleged. “Victim stated that he then observed two additional males in his home.”

Police said the men ransacked the home and the demands for money and threats of violence continued. The victim told police he saw an opportunity to run from his home when Hutton and Mattis ran from the home, according to the criminal complaint.

Plymouth police were assisted at the scene by Plymouth Ambulance, the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, the County Sheriff’s Department, the Norristown Police Department and other neighboring law enforcement agencies.

“If you blow it, I won’t hesitate, I will send you upstate. I hope that’s enough to keep you on the straight and narrow.” — Montgomery County Judge Todd D. Eisenberg