One of the Reading Commons Home Invasion Trio Sentenced to Jail Time

Reading resident Matthew Stratton, 21, appeared in court late last week for a hearing on a probation violation and was sentenced to two and a half years in a house of corrections. Stratton was on probation for the 2011 home invasion and armed robbery at Reading Commons.

Stratton violated his probation by leaving a court-mandated program without permission and did not contact his probation office. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Garry Inge sentenced the defendant to two and a half years in jail for the violation. Once Stratton is released, he will remain on probation until 2017.

In January of 2012, three men including Stratton plead guilty to home invasion and armed robbery charges in connection with a 2011 home invasion at Reading Commons, according to Police Chief James Cormier.

The charges included home invasion, armed robbery, conspiracy, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (two counts) and assault and battery. The state requested that the defendants be sentenced to five to seven years in state prison followed by five years probation with conditions, according to a release.

Inge sentenced the defendants to two and a half years in a house of corrections, suspended for 30 months on one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and an additional two and a half years in a house of corrections, on and after, suspended for 30 months on the assault and battery count, according to a release. On all the other charges, the defendants were sentenced to five years probation and were told to stay away from the victim and his family and remain drug free. They were also required to maintain employment or enroll in school, complete 125 hours of community service, pay $800 in restitution to the victim and undergo a mental health or drug evaluation, according to a release. While on probation, they were also subject to random drug tests.

Take a look at our previous coverage of the incident:

Reading Commons Home Invasion Not a Random Act

More Details on The Reading Commons Home Invasion

Reading Commons Home Invasion About More Than Just Money

Police Charge Fourth Man In Connection With Reading Commons Home Invasion

Police Chief Cormier on Reading Commons Sentence