Man testifies he took bath salts accidently instead of meth before terrorizing elderly couple

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man who kicked an elderly couple out of their Portland home, then barricaded himself inside, was found guilty of burglary and other charges, authorities said.

Michael Anthony Mazzi, 35, was convicted by a grand jury on multiple charges after an incident at a home on Northwest Skyline Boulevard two years ago, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office said. 

On March 13, 2023, an elderly couple, aged 76 and 85 years old, saw a man taking their ladder, assuming it was their gardener. However, Mazzi began yelling at the couple to leave their home, then forced his way inside, followed by his girlfriend and their dog, prosecutors said. 

The man called 911, with Mazzi screaming at them to “leave” in the background. He uttered other nonsensical things, prosecutors said, before claiming the house was his. He then snatched the phone from the woman and “forced the couple out into the freezing rain,” officials said.

“Police arrived but Mazzi refused to leave the home. Eventually, SERT arrived and had to blow open the door to get inside and get Mazzi out,” the DA’s office said. “In his defense, Mazzi testified that he accidentally took bath salts instead of methamphetamine.”

Mazzi was found guilty of first-degree burglary, coercion, menacing and criminal mischief, with the jury reaching their conviction after just 30 minutes.

Mazzi will be sentenced on August 15 and faces up to 10 years in prison.