Home Invasion Suspects Sentenced After Guilty Pleas

What began as a disagreement over an ex-girlfriend and ended up as a home invasion and assault, has earned three young men lengthy prison sentences. 

Azhadique S. Blidgen, 21, of Maynard, Jonathan Soucy, 22, of Northborough, and Brandon Place, 19, of North Carolina have a all been sentenced to time behind bars after pleading guilty to a March 2, 2011 home invasion in Marlborough. 

"Yesterday afternoon Soucy, Blidgen, and Place pled guilty to armed home invasion, assault and battery with a deadly weapon with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon and assault and battery," said a representative of the Middlesex District Attorney's office on Wednesday.  

The incident stemmed from Soucy believing that a resident of the Highland Street home they entered was dating his ex-girlfriend. After gaining entry by identifying themselves as police officers, Soucy punched one of the victims and Blidgen admitted to striking another man repeatedly with a crowbar, severely breaking his leg. Both Soucy and Blidgen have been given state prison sentences of four to five years with five years probation afterwards.

Place, who also entered the home, admitted to entering with a baseball bat and menacing the residents as Blidgen and Soucy assaulted them. He has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a house of corrections with five years probation.

The Middlesex D.A.'s office had recommended eight to 12 years in state prison for Soucy and Blidgen and three to four years in state prison for Place. 

Before pleading guilty to the charges, the men were facing possible life prison sentences had they been convicted.

The convicted men were rounded up in the wake of the incident by the with other agencies assisting. Soucy was arrested in the area, while Blidgen was apprehended in Lowell and Place in North Carolina.

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