An 18-year-old Belpre man who played a part in the February beating of Devon Ours was sentenced Wednesday for second-degree felonious assault.

Isaiah Campbell, of 5665 Veto Road, Belpre, was indicted in March on one count of first-degree attempted murder.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was received requesting assistance in regards to an unresponsive man suffering from a head wound.

Deputies responded to 3719 Blue Knob Road, Apt. B, Marietta, and found Ours lying on the floor. During the investigation, it was found that Ours had been punched, kneed in the head and hit with a baseball bat.

Campbell’s sentencing was complicated, said Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil.

Campbell first appeared in front of Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi on Wednesday, who sentenced him to four years in prison.

His case was then immediately returned to the Washington County Juvenile Court, where Judge Timothy Williams sentenced him to a year in the Department of Youth Services, a juvenile detention center.

Coil explained how Campbell could be sentenced for the same crime in both courts.

“Campbell was indicted on attempted murder. This is a charge which qualifies for a mandatory bindover from juvenile court to adult court,” she said. “In other words, Campbell would be tried as an adult.”

She said Campbell pleaded guilty to felonious assault, which is a charge that does not require the mandatory bindover.

“Since it is discretionary, the case can go back to juvenile court. However, since he pleaded in adult court, Judge Kerenyi had to sentence him in adult court,” Coil said. “However, since pleading to felonious assault as a juvenile charge would only require a discretionary bindover to adult court, Judge Kerenyi stayed the adult sentence for the case to go back to juvenile court for the juvenile court to make additional findings as to whether Campbell should be tried as an adult.”

She said the prosecutor’s office could oppose the case going back to juvenile court, but the main reason they did not was because Campbell had no prior criminal record.

Once back in juvenile court, Campbell is considered a serious youthful offender based upon the charge to which he pled, Coil said.

“A child can be given a blended juvenile and adult court sentence under the serious youthful offender statute. Under SYO, a child receives a juvenile court disposition, as well as an adult court sentence,” Coil said. “The court shall stay the adult portion of the SYO sentence pending the successful completion of the traditional juvenile dispositions imposed.”

She said in Campbell’s case, Williams adopted the sentence by Kerenyi in adult court of four to six years. However, this adult sentence will be stayed to see if Campbell successfully completes his minimum one-year juvenile sentence, which Williams ordered to be served at DYS.

“If he misbehaves while at DYS, he could be given additional time at DYS. If he does not successfully complete the juvenile sentence, he could be required to serve the adult sentence. Campbell has behaved during his 229 days of confinement to this point,” she said.

Campbell’s attorney, Eric Fowler, explained he “loved juvenile law and he’s seen good kids do bad things.”

He said although Campbell did participate in the violent attack, he didn’t use the baseball bat and has shown genuine remorse. He said Campbell is ready to accept his punishment.

Campbell was shaking as he told Williams about how he’s prayed for Ours since the attack, hoping “every day that he’ll be prosperous.”

He said he had “no idea” Ours was coming over that night. He admitted to the court he was drunk and “threw a couple of punches” at Ours because he was afraid of Steven Andrew Osborne, 19, of 529 Federal Road, Little Hocking, who is also charged in the attack.

Campbell’s parents spoke to the court about how they didn’t know their son was drinking and that since the attack, his main concern has been for Ours. His father said Campbell is facing the consequences of his actions and holding himself accountable.

“I absolutely believe this is out of character,” Coil said. “But it concerns me that he’s not being truthful with his parents and the court.”

Williams said he watched the video of the beating, which was recorded on Campbell’s cell phone. WHile the judge said he was taking Campbell’s word that he didn’t plan the attack, he noted Campbell still participated in it.

Osborne was indicted along with his girlfriend, Sierah Caldwell, 18, of 3719 Blue Knob Road, Apt. B, Marietta, on multiple charges, including attempted murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.

Their jury trials are scheduled for February.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.