Morganton man sentenced to 25 years for claw hammer attack

This browser does not support the video element.

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A Burke County judge sentenced a man to 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to attacking another man with a claw hammer and robbing him.

Stacy Heatley, 44, entered a guilty plea Monday to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Authorities said the victim was helping Heatley’s co-defendant, Patricia Hunley, move out of her mobile home in December when the two tied up the victim, beat him with a hammer and robbed him of $6,500 and his pickup truck.

(Patricia Hunley)

The victim was flown to Carolinas Medical Center, where he was treated for multiple skull fractures and swelling on his brain. He spent more than two weeks in the hospital.

The victim’s truck was recovered in Marion, and Heatley and Hunley were arrested at a Winston-Salem hotel, according to authorities.

The district attorney said Heatley admitted his involvement and told investigators that he and Hunley had planned to rob the victim and had engaged in such behavior before.

Hunley has not entered a plea in the case. The DA said she has a July court date.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: