Lewiston family finds man inside their home in armed Christmas burglary

A man is accused of spoiling a Lewiston family’s holiday plans after allegedly burglarizing their home Christmas Day and attacking them with a wooden lamp.

The Lewiston Police Department says the man was discovered by the family at about 3:15 p.m. when they returned home on the 1100 block of 12th Avenue, according to a news release. A woman told 911 dispatchers that her husband and son were fighting with the man and that they’d both “sustained head injuries and were bleeding.”

When officers arrived, they found the man, identified as 31-year-old Robert C. Klay, swinging a “broken wooden lamp” at the two victims, the release said. He was immediately taken into custody.

The victims were treated at the scene and then drove in a private vehicle to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center for further treatment.

Police said Klay was attempting to leave the home with two bags of stolen items, including some items in his pockets, when he was confronted.

He faces two counts of aggravated battery and one count of malicious injury to property.