Plumber pleads guilty to home invasion & weapons charge

A man who wreaked havoc on two households two years ago this month now heads to prison. Joshua Jermaine Plumber pleaded guilty to two charges rather than stand trial. There were about ten charges against him but he pleaded guilty tohome invasion and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; The charges stem from an attack on his former girlfriend in the presence of her two small children.

"He arrived shortly before the police did. He actually did fire several shots in the neighborhood and there were several witnesses who heard those gunshots. He kicked in the door to her apartment, charged in and found her hiding in a closet with her two young children. And he used the handgun that he had to beat her with it. She calls it being pistol whipped and she did suffer very serious injuries as a result of the beating she took," said prosecutor Tara Hawkins.

Other charges stemmed from Plumber's allegedly running from police and hiding out at a second house nearby.

"He ended up having about a four and a half hour standoff with law enforcement officers, Lake Charles Police Department," said Plumber.

Most of those charges have now been dismissed. Still, Hawkins says avoiding the ordeal of a trial is easier on the victim and witnesses.

"This was a relationship gone bad.The battered victim sometimes hesitates on coming forward, they have feelings of guilt or just concerns about coming forward and testifying against a former love interest," said Hawkins.

Judge Mike Canaday sentenced Plumber to twenty years in prison. Hawkins says such cases often escalates to severe injury or death. She encourages victims to report domestic violence.

"I do believe the offices is very concerned about the escalation in violence. So, we are certainly focused on pursuing those charges even with a victim makes it difficult for us to do so," said Hawkins.

Plumber has spent two years in jail so he's likely eligible for parole in about fifteen years.

Plumber is 27 years old so he'll likely be around 42 when he gets out of prison.

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Plumber pleads guilty to home invasion & weapons charge