KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
A 28-year-old Kansas City man has been charged in a recent assault and robbery of an elderly man in his home.
Eric L. Patton faces first-degree assault and second-degree robbery charges. Prosecutors requested a cash bond of $100,000.
According to court records, the 88-year-old victim of the attack was found in his home located in the 600 block of West 44rd Street about 11 a.m. last Tuesday. When officers arrived they found the elderly man suffering from an apparent injury to the back of his head and several abrasions throughout his body.
He was transported to an area hospital here he received several staples to the back of his head and has not regained consciousness since being hospitalized. Medical personnel told authorities that the man's injuries were considered life-threatening.
The victim's grandson told police that his grandfather's rented television, wallet and checkbook were missing from inside his home.
Police obtained a serial number for the TV at an area Rent-A-Center where the victim had leased the TV, and discovered the TV had been pawned by Patton, who was an employee of Rent-A-Center until Aug. 3. His job duties included the delivery of merchandise.
Business records indicated he delivered a refrigerator to the victim's house June 28 and serviced the victim's television July 11.
Patton told police he robbed the victim in his home Aug. 25, hitting him in the head with his fists several times and leaving him behind. He also admitted he left the victim's residence and drove to a pawn shop.
Patton pawned the TV for $100.
Xavier Dominicis, a spokesman for Rent-A-Center headquarters in Plano, TX, said Patton's actions are clearly contradictory to everything the company stands for and nothing like this has happened in the past.
"Shocking. We will cooperate with law enforcement. The victim has our deepest sympathy. He was a customer of ours. We are clearly concerned," Dominicis said.
Because of the holiday situation, Dominicis said he was unable to access records to determine why Patton was no longer with the company.
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