Robert Hickey gets 3 to six for breaking his mother-in-law's eye socket

LACONIA - A former Brockton, Mass. man will spend the next three to six years in the New Hampshire State Prison after pleading guilty to one count of second degree assault for smashing his mother-in-law's face to the floor and breaking her eye socket.

Robert Hickey, 42, also pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and was sentenced to an additional two to four years suspended for seven years pending his good behavior.

During the offer of proof preceding the plea, County Attorney Assistant Stacey Kaelin said Alton Police were called to Heron Point Road for a domestic dispute.

She said the victim, Hickey's mother-in-law, called 9-1-1 after she confronted Hickey about burglarizing a neighboring home and he assaulted her.

Kaelin and Hickey's lawyer Anne Weakly initially agreed to a two to four year sentence, coupled with alcohol, drug and anger counseling but Judge James O'Neill rejected the plea.

O'Neill said Hickey's previous criminal history - most of which was from Massachusetts and includes a 10-year sentence for a robbery conviction, three assault and battery charges, one against a police officer and one against a corrections guard, and his repeated charges for operating a motor vehicle after suspension - precluded a lenient sentence for "beating up this woman pretty severely."

"Your honor, I have a long criminal history but I have kids now," said Hickey in a quiet voice. "I want to pay my debt to society and raise my children."

O'Neill was unmoved.

A second plead deal for 2 1/2 to 5 years was similarly rejected, with O'Neill finally agreeing to accept the 3 to 6 year sentence to be followed by two years of probation. The 2-to-4 year sentence which would be served consecutively for burglary was suspending pending seven years of good behavior.