(Stillwater, Okla.) – A Tryon man has been given a seven-year prison term for breaking into Laymance Services in Cushing where he formerly worked and hitting another employee with a claw hammer — while he was on probation in Lincoln County.
Bradley John Glen Rice, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to Payne County charges of second-degree burglary and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, both occurring on March 10.
“The owner of Laymance Services advised that upon his return to his shop, he observed that the back window was broken out and that the business alarm was going off,” Cushing Police Chief Tully Folden said in a news release.
“Laymance also stated that he observed a car parked near the back door of the business with the driver’s door open and running.
“Laymance advised that as he approached the building, suspect Bradley Rice exited the rear of the business.
“Rice was seen carrying a claw hammer and cash as he exited the building,” the news release said. “Laymance then advised that he tackled Rice to the ground.
“During the struggle on the ground, Rice struck another worker with the claw hammer as he attempted to help restrain Rice for the police,” the news release said.
That worker received a minor injury to his back, the news release said.
The case was investigated by Cushing Police Officers Jonathan Hall and Casey Perry.
Only six months earlier, Rice had been placed on seven years’ probation on a five-count charge from Tryon in 2014 — with an order to enroll in and successfully complete the Lincoln County Drug Court program, court records show.
Rice had admitted committing first-degree burglary, as well as two counts of malicious injury to property and two counts of domestic violence, court records show.
However, eight months later Rice was revoked from participating in the Drug Court program and sentenced to seven years in prison from Lincoln County in May, court records show.
As part of a plea bargain approved in court Friday by Payne County District Judge Phillip Corley, his seven-year prison term in his Cushing case will run concurrently to his seven-year prison term in his Tryon case.
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