Livonia man receives three years of probation in case involving attempted home break-ins

A Livonia man accused of trying to break into homes in his neighborhood while dressed in a white painter's suit and mask has been sentenced to probation. Manuel Bardakjian, 40, received 36 months of probation Friday for felonious assault in a case involving two incidents in May.

The judge also required Bardakjian to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow-up treatment as part of the sentence. He must forfeit his weapons and have no contact with the victims. The sentencing followed an October plea agreement that resulted in the dismissal of a felony firearm charge and an assault charge.

Livonia police arrested Bardakjian on June 6 after investigating two attempted home invasions. The incidents involved three people: a 31-year-old woman, a 33-year-old man and a 77-year-old man. Prosecutors described encounters on consecutive days in which Bardakjian allegedly entered residential yards while wearing the white suit.

According to prosecutors, the first incident occurred May 13 at the 31-year-old woman's home. Bardakjian was allegedly wearing what authorities described as a white hazmat or painter's suit when he forced his way into her yard. Prosecutors said he then tried to force his way into the residence.

The woman confronted Bardakjian during that encounter, prosecutors said. He allegedly physically assaulted her before fleeing the scene. That incident was one of the two attempted home invasions examined in the police investigation that later led to his arrest.

The second encounter took place May 14, when the 77-year-old man was in his backyard, according to prosecutors. They alleged that Bardakjian, again wearing the suit, forced his way into the yard and pointed a firearm at the man. The man escaped and ran across the street to the home of the 33-year-old man.

Prosecutors said Bardakjian then threatened to shoot both men before fleeing. The allegations from the two incidents formed the account authorities provided of the neighborhood encounters before the case reached its resolution through the plea agreement and sentencing.

During court proceedings, defense attorney Drew Norton told the judge that Bardakjian had been in a car accident the previous year and had not been himself since. The sentence includes the mental health evaluation and subsequent treatment alongside the weapons forfeiture and prohibition on contacting the victims.