The Mousetrap Set Him Off: Woodbury Man Sentenced for Assault

A Woodbury man was recently sentenced to three years of probation after he was convicted of assaulting his brother following a prank involving mousetraps.

Matthew Joseph Nelson, 23, must also complete a one-day anger-management class and pay a $100 fine following the Jan. 13 incident in Woodbury.

According to the criminal complaint:

Woodbury police were called to a home at the 2300 block of Cascade Plaza South on a report of a domestic assault between brothers.

They had been helping their mother set mousetraps.

Nelson’s mother and brother were teasing him about setting a mousetrap in his bed, and he later decided to leave.

Related: Mousetrap Prank Leaves Woodbury Man’s Brother in Stitches

When he went downstairs to his room to get his keys, he opened the door and a mousetrap went off, startling Nelson, who then threw a pillow at his brother.

A struggle ensued, with Nelson’s brother putting him in a bear hug in an effort to restrain him. Nelson then punched his brother several times in the head.

His brother suffered a cut on his lip that required four stitches.

Nelson told police he was trying to defend himself.

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