A Meriden man has been convicted of kidnapping, robbery, and strangulation in connection with a meetup over the sale of sneakers.
A New Britain Superior Court jury found 24-year-old Addison Clegg guilty of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree strangulation, stealing a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm, according to a statement from the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.
Court records show that, during a Facebook Marketplace transaction for sneakers, Clegg “strangled the victim to the point of unconsciousness, allowing another individual to take the victim’s legally registered 9mm firearm and the victim’s vehicle and drive the unconscious victim from the scene.”
As the victim regained consciousness, he managed to escape from the moving vehicle on Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill. According to court records, he suffered serious injuries, including a broken foot.
Judge Chris Pelosi, who presided over the trail, scheduled Clegg’s sentencing for March 25.
“The victim’s courage cannot be understated. But for his quick thinking under terrifying conditions, allowing him to escape from his abductors, who knows how this violent encounter would have ended?” said Senior Assistant State’s Attorney David Clifton and Inspector Edward Apicella, who prosecuted the case.
New Britain State’s Attorney Christian M. Watson thanked the Rocky Hill and Middletown police departments, “specifically Detectives Patrick Lehane, Thomas Ganley and Officer Brandon Caires, for their investigative efforts,” as well as members of Hartford Hospital “for their talented medical intervention, and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection-Division of Scientific Services for their professional analysis.”