Man attacked dad with machete as family hid in closet

Believing it belonged to someone who owed him money, a machete-wielding man smashed into a St. Vital townhouse last Christmas morning and attacked a father of two as his family hid in a closet.

Provincial court Judge Vincent Sinclair sentenced Jonathon Yetman-Levasseur, 20, to seven years in prison, less time served, at a sentencing hearing in Winnipeg.

Yetman-Levasseur previously pleaded guilty to break and enter, aggravated assault and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose for the Christmas Day home invasion and an earlier incident when he was found in possession of a hatchet.

“I hope this provides at least some closure to the family,” Sinclair told court Monday.

The attack that left the 36-year-old father with lasting scars was an apparent case of mistaken identity.

Yetman-Levasseur, said he was “blacking out” on illicit substances, including MDMA, and remembered few details of the incident. He later told police he had meant to go to the home of a man who owed him money.

He did not know the victim or his family.

It was shortly before 3 a.m. on Dec. 25 last year when Yetman-Levasseur smashed his way through the glass doors of a home on St. Mary’s Road, where the family of four, including a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl, were fast asleep.

The father was awoken by the sound of smashing glass.

“He told his fearful family to hide in the closet — his terrified family,” Sinclair said.

The dad armed himself with a hammer and went out to the second-floor hallway, where he saw Yetman-Levasseur armed with a machete.

The attacker confronted the father, who swung at Yetman-Levasseur with the hammer before the home invader struck him in the forehead with the machete.

“The accused then swung a second time, while (the dad) mostly tried to stop the strike with his wrist,” said Sinclair. “That blow caused significant and traumatic injuries.”

Yetman-Levessaur fled and then called police himself, claiming to have been stabbed and to have stabbed someone else. He was arrested soon after.

“Needless to say this incident will have a long-lasting negative effect on (the victim) and his family. There is only hope that the children may eventually not associate this attack on their father (with) Christmas Day,” said Sinclair.

“Certainly, (the parents) will never forget. There will always be reminders and possible triggers. Also, there is no doubt they experienced an unimaginable fear at the time of the break and enter.”

Sinclair said the family have been left with lingering issues.

“There is only hope that the children may eventually not associate this attack on their father (with) Christmas Day.”–Judge Vincent Sinclair

“They may never come to grips with it and one of the hardest things to deal with is something you have or had no control over,” said Sinclair. “They linger in your mind a long time and can eat away at you, day in and day out. The family is clearly left with physical and emotional scars.”

The judge also noted the attack cost the family money, as the mother took time off work, their home needed to be cleaned and repaired, and the family will require medical and psychological treatment.

Yetman-Levasseur earlier apologized in court and had expressed remorse in a pre-sentencing report, said Sinclair. He’s been flagged as a high-risk to re-offend.

He also earlier pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday for being found with a hatchet near Corydon Avenue and Elm Street on Sept. 7 last year.

A person in the area had spotted the weapon’s handle sticking out of his waistband and called police.

Winnipeg police officers found him shirtless, leaning against a building, a few minutes later. He tried to ditch the hatchet but was quickly arrested.

Police released Yetman-Levasseur on an undertaking, which he was still on at the time of the Christmas morning attack.

Crown prosecutor Shahzad Musaddiq had sought eight years in prison for Yetman-Levasseur, while his defence lawyer Zilla Jones asked for five.

He’s also been ordered to provide a DNA sample to justice officials and banned from owning firearms and weapons.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca