CASSOPOLIS — A 43-year-old homeless man who nearly killed his mother by intentionally unplugging her oxygen machine in Cass County in August 2012 will spend the next 34 months in prison.

Shawn Lockmondy was sentenced to a minimum of 34 months and a maximum of 20 years in prison by Judge Michael Dodge Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Lockmondy was found guilty in June of felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder based on his actions Aug. 12 of last year.

At that time, Lockmondy was heavily intoxicated when he entered his parents’ home on U.S. 12 in Union to find his 69-year-old mother home alone. Lockmondy’s mother was hooked up to an oxygen machine, which is necessary for her survival. Just five minutes away from the machine, the court heard, would put her life in jeopardy.

At some point, Lockmondy became angry with his mother and unplugged her oxygen machine from the wall. He then stomped on the plug, bending the prongs, before going outside. Lockmondy’s mother was able to straighten the prongs and plug the machine back in before passing out.

In the meantime, Lockmondy got a gasoline can from the garage and began emptying it around outside the home. He fled the scene without setting anything on fire and was arrested several days later.

Dodge gave Lockmondy the longest sentence possible according to the 10- to 34-month guideline range.

Prior to sentencing, Lockmondy’s father asked the court to give his son substance abuse treatment.

“We (my wife and I) both know in our hearts that our son does love his mother,” he said. “If he wouldn’t have been under the influence of his addiction he would never have done what he did.”

Lockmondy’s past is riddled with alcohol-related offenses, including three for drunken driving convictions, a domestic violence conviction and two fleeing police convictions.

He was also convicted for possessing cocaine in Elkhart, Ind.

Also on Friday, Dylin Ackah-Essien, 18, of Chicago, was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the armed robbery of a Pizza Hut delivery man in Dowagiac in April 2012.

A jury found Essien guilty of several counts, including the most serious charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

After ordering pizza, Essien and three others lured the deliveryman into an abandoned home, robbed him and stole his car. The court determined Essien to be the leader in the incident. Essien received the same sentence as co-defendant Michael Smith, of Dowagiac. Essien had no prior criminal record and had been accepted into several colleges.