A.L. man sentenced to probation for threatening man with loaded gun

Published 11:19 pm Monday, April 24, 2017

An Albert Lea man who reportedly pulled a loaded gun on a man last May was placed on probation for up to two years Monday in Freeborn County District Court.

Todd Allen Seeley, 62, was sentenced to 365 days in jail. All of the days were stayed. He was ordered to have no assaultive or threatening behavior, not use alcohol or other controlled substances, submit to random testing, not enter bars or liquor stores and meet other court requirements.

Todd Seeley

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Seeley was ordered to participate in 80 hours of Sentence to Service work.

Seeley was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in December to felony terroristic threats. The conviction was deemed a gross misdemeanor at sentencing. Additional counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor domestic assault were dismissed at sentencing.

Prior to sentencing, public defender Michael Ryan said the incident stemmed from Seeley’s alcoholism. Seeley has worked to get clean since the incident, Ryan said, including attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and his involvement at Fountain Centers.

Seeley addressed District Court Judge Steven Schwab before sentencing, saying: “It’s so unfortunate that this happened.”

He said his lifestyle changed after the incident and called the change “a blessing.”

Court documents state Seeley was charged after the alleged victim  — an adult family member  — reported Seeley was drunk and pulled a loaded shotgun on him. The family member reportedly said he had been able to get the gun away from Seeley, place it outside and remove a shotgun shell. A second shell was also reportedly in the weapon. Officers reportedly removed a 12-gauge shotgun, two 12-gauge shotgun shells and a black BB pistol.

Seeley’s blood alcohol content was reportedly measured at .243.