A judge sentenced a Shelton man to serve five years behind bars Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to participating in a three-on-one assault in March that left another man in critical condition.
Jason Terry, 26, pleaded under the Alford doctrine to first-degree assault before Judge Frank Iannotti at Superior Court in Milford.
Under Alford, a defendant does not admit all the facts in the case but concedes there is enough evidence for conviction at trial.
Authorities said Terry and two other men — Daniel Zeleznik and Andrew O’Connell — assaulted Jason Chevrier, 32, at the corner of Coram Avenue and Kneen Street in the early morning hours of March 18.
The beating was so severe that doctors at Bridgeport Hospital had to use seven staples to close a gash to Chevrier’s head and he lost most of his top row of teeth, according to an arrest warrant affidavit in the case.
Several witnesses told police Chevrier had been in the area of Howe Avenue and Kneen Street that day and night and had also spent time in several apartments at the “corner block,” an apartment building at the corner of Howe Avenue and Brewster Lane.
Outside the building just before midnight, witnesses told police Chevrier got into an argument with Zeleznik and Terry. O’Connell, a relative of Zeleznik’s roommate, was also in the area.
The men told Chevrier to leave, witnesses said. Instead, he picked up a two-by-four he found nearby and starting swinging it while claiming he would call the “Latin Kings” to fight them.
But when the three men came out of the building with weapons, Chevrier dropped the two-by-four and ran away, up Kneen Street. The group caught up with him near the intersection of Kneen Street and Coram Avenue.
In court Wednesday, Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Stango said Terry kicked Chevrier repeatedly after Chevrier had been knocked to the ground. Stango said the basis of Terry’s Alford plea was that Terry said he used pepper spray on Chevrier, but denied kicking him.
Stango said he had talked to Chevrier Wednesday morning and that the man concurred with the plea offer made to Terry.
Terry himself was less than thrilled.
When Judge Iannotti asked if he was satisfied with the assistance of his lawyer, Lawrence Hopkins, in the case, Terry shook his head and said “I’m not satisfied with any of it, actually.”
Judge Iannotti then asked Terry whether he was unhappy with his lawyer’s advice or just the fact that he would be getting a five-year prison sentence in the case.
“Yes, that’s what I’m unhappy with,” Terry replied.
“I don’t think anybody would be particularly happy about spending five years in prison,” Judge Iannotti shot back.
The judge then imposed a 10-year prison sentence in the case, to be suspended after Terry serves five years behind bars, with five years of probation.
While on probation, Judge Iannotti ordered Terry not to have any contact with Chevrier and contribute toward any of his outstanding medical bills. Once out of prison, Terry must also refrain from possessing weapons or narcotics and seek or maintain full-time employment.
After the hearing, Terry’s mother, Cathy Santilli, said he had been hoping to get a three-year sentence in the case.
Santilli said her son was less culpable in the assault than Zeleznik, and that Terry hadn’t had contact with Chevrier prior to the night of the assault.
“I don’t even think he knows the guy, to tell you the truth,” Santilli said.
O’Connell pleaded guilty in the case last month and faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 6.
Zeleznik posted a $100,000 bond after his arrest in the case in March. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday (Oct. 11).
