by Aaron Gibson, February 29, 2016
A Georgetown man accused of attempting to stab his friend to death last Halloween was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday, Feb. 26.
Jack Ramsey Russell withdrew a not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree felony assault on Friday in Brown County Common Pleas Court. A second count of felony assault and one count of first-degree felony attempted murder were dismissed as part of the plea.
Judge Scott T. Gusweiler sentenced Russell to a six-year prison term with a mandatory three years of post-release control and credit for 118 days of jail time already served.
Gusweiler additionally recommended that Russell should receive an evaluation and treatment for mental health.
The sentence came after Russell changed his plea from not guilty by reason of insanity following a competency evaluation by Court Clinic Forensic Services. Russell had been deemed competent enough to stand trial as a result of the evaluation.
Prosecutors said Russell stabbed his friend Casey Bias with a knife, in an attempt to kill him, after a disagreement on Oct. 31, 2015. Bias sustained several stab wounds, including one five centimeters deep, before he was able to successfully escape in his vehicle and call emergency dispatchers.
Georgetown Police recovered a black knife with a five-inch blade at Russell’s home that morning, according to court documents.
Russell faced up to 27 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
—Brown County Crime Reporter, February 29, 2016 7:30 PM EST
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