Outrage after Reading home invasion suspects get only probation

READING (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - A decision out of Middlesex Superior Court is causing some outrage after three men who admitted to a violent home invasion were given probation.

Jason Molle, 21 of Stoneham, Garrett Collins, 22, of Reading, and Matthew Stratton, 20, also of Reading, pleaded guilty to charges including home invasion, armed robbery, conspiracy, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from a 2011 Reading home invasion.

In spite of prosecutors’ requests for jail time, Judge Garry Inge sentenced the three men to five years probation and a suspended jail sentence.

Following the verdict, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone released a statement to FOX 25 sharing his disappointment in the outcome.

“These defendants have now admitted to attacking and threatening the victim inside the victim’s house before robbing him of a significant amount of money and fleeing the scene. We are disappointed that the Court did not see fit to incarcerate the defendants,” says Leone.

Those feelings of disappointment are shared by Reading Police Chief Cormier.

“The message here is, we’ve got you on an armed home invasion, you go into someone’s home and rob them of a large sum of money and we’re not going to put you in jail,” says Chief Cormier.

The Police Chief also says the case does not help authorities deal with substance abuse issues which seem to be at the root of these crimes.

Another defendant, Quinlan Junta passed away before sentencing. Junta is son of infamous hockey dad Tom Junta.

Collins was in violation of probation for his involvement in the crime. He will appear in court at a later date for that violation.