At one point during the fracas, Newell, who is six foot, two inches tall and weighs 250 pounds, held both victims by their throats and kept asking "where the money was," according to court documents and a media report.

During the struggle, Newell's mask came off. Before fleeing Kulik's home, Newell ran upstairs looking for money when Sodano called police, prosecutors said. Kulik was hospitalized and Sodano was treated for a minor injury at the scene.

Kulik and Sodano identified Newell as the attacker, which led to his arrest at the credit union's Fountain Green branch on Nov. 12.

Newell acknowledged to police that about a week before the home invasion, he served Kulik at the credit union branch where he withdrew a large sum of money, and that it was the basis for committing the crimes, according to prosecutors.

Following a two-day bench trial held at Harford County Circuit Court, Newell was convicted of attempted murder in the second degree, home invasion, first degree burglary, robbery, first degree assault, second degree assault and attempted theft.

Newell, who was fired soon after the incident occurred, had been working for the credit union for less than nine months.

Freedom FCU President/CEO Mike MacPherson said his staff conducted a thorough review of the employee's file and the hiring procedures that took place.

"Our procedures met all federal and state regulations, including rigorous background checks, credit checks, state, federal and national crime records checks, and previous employment verification," MacPherson wrote in a letter to credit union members. "There was nothing revealed during this process or subsequently, to indicate the potential for such an outcome."

During a court hearing, it was revealed that Newell did not have a criminal history.

MacPherson said that because of this unprecedented experience, the credit union was doing everything in its power to prevent a similar occurrence.