ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Sherman Leasure will spend eight to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of felonious assault.

The charges stem from an incident in Bellaire in which Leasure reportedly entered the Bellaire residence of Dakota Cline and severely beat him, causing serious injuries and hospitalization.

Leasure, 22, of 3408 Monroe St., Bellaire was later arrested along with Richard West III, 47, of 110 E. 23rd St., Bellaire.

Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said law enforcement involvement began when other individuals went by the residence and discovered the condition of the victim.

“We had two co-defendants. Richard West was one of them, and the principal offender was Sherman Leasure,” Flanagan said. “(Leasure) received the maximum eight years for the felonious assault, and then we asked the court to incorporate the nearly three years of what we call post-release control, which is prison time owed from another offense.

“That totals 11 years. Under Ohio law you are allowed to stack those, and that is exactly what we did.”

Flanagan said Leasure has a lengthy history of felony convictions.

“At a very young age, this is his third felony,” Flanagan said.

“The victim is recovering from his wounds, but he had some serious facial lacerations that will take additional time to heal. However, throughout the course of the prosecution we were in constant contact with the victim,” he said.

“From the investigation of the Bellaire Police Department as well as our own investigation, we believe this assault was absolutely premeditated, that Sherman Leasure went there to cause the victim harm. In fact, it was the victim that opened the door and allowed the co-defendants into the house, not knowing that they had planned to assault him.”

Flanagan said there were signs of premeditation in the case.

There was speculation on social media following Leasure’s sentencing, and Flanagan added that there was a personal history between Leasure and Cline.

“They knew each other since the time that they were both juveniles, but as far as anything that led to this assault, we have not been able to pinpoint anything in particular. There have been various rumors that we have heard, but nothing has been substantiated,” Flanagan said.

“We can indicate that robbery was not a motive,” Flanagan said. “These individuals were acquaintances of each other, but we have not been able to pinpoint any history between the two that would have led to this assault.”

Flanagan said there are no charges against Cline.

“This is an extremely serious case, which is one of the reasons why we asked for the nearly 11-year sentence,” he said. “This was a very deserving sentence.”

Flanagan said West was sentenced earlier this month before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra for complicity in felonious assault.

“Mr. West received a seven-year sentence. We do not know why he was with Mr. Leasure that day. Mr. West did not participate in the assault, but he was there with Sherman Leasure when they were let into the house, so we viewed Mr. West as an aider and abetter under the law,” Flanagan said. “The judge could have imposed as little as three years, which the defense was asking for, or as much as seven years, which the state of Ohio was asking for.”