A young man who tied up and repeatedly tased a 74-year-old college-area resident after contacting him via an online personal ad was sentenced Thursday to four years in state prison.
Lucas Churchill Holmes, 20, of El Cajon, pleaded guilty in April to a robbery charge and an elder abuse allegation.
Police said Holmes got in touch with the victim through a listing on a Craigslist dating page and then unexpectedly showed up at the victim’s home in the 4600 block of El Cerrito Drive about 1:15 a.m. on April 8.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello said the defendant — an orphan raised by gypsies in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova until the age of 4 — acted with a “complete lack of empathy” when he attacked the elderly victim.
“This was planned,” the prosecutor said, noting that the defendant expected to meet a man in his 50s, based on the posting on Craigslist.
Pirrello said the defendant bound the victim’s hands, repeatedly tased him, then robbed him of credit and debit cards.
Detectives tracked Holmes to El Cajon and arrested him about 3 p.m., SDPD public affairs Officer Humberto Hernandez said.
Defense attorney Scott Pactor told Judge Michael Groch that Holmes was a transient living out of his car when the assault and robbery occurred.
Holmes said he was sorry for what happened and wished he could take it back.
— City News Service
