The ringleader of a savage beating and robbery was sentenced to 12 years in prison and eight year's probation Tuesday in Troup Superior Court.

Joseph Dewitt Jones, 24, pleaded guilty to charges of robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery for ambushing Harold Lee, owner of Wing Man eatery at South Greenwood and Ashton streets, between midnight and 1 a.m. Dec. 14 when Lee arrived home on Caney Creek Road.

Two other defendants were sentenced in April on robbery charges. Joshua Allen Rogers, 21, of LaGrange received six years in prison and six years’ probation, and Zachary Oliver Marshall, 20, of Hogansville received five years in prison and seven years’ probation.

The defendants also have to come up with about $8,300 to pay the victim’s medical and dental bills.

Assistant district attorney Melissa Himes said Jones, who had worked for years at Wing Man, told the other two defendants on numerous occasions that he “knew a way to get some easy money.”

With Marshall driving, they went to the victim’s residence where Jones wore an “Incredible Hulk” mask and Rogers pulled a toboggan down to serve as a mask. Marshall waited in the car while the other two hid in the bushes.

“They had planned to push the victim down and take his money, but Jones began punching and kicking the victim over and over again,” Himes said. “By his own admission, he punched him at least 10 times in the head.”

Rogers did not participate in the beating, but ran back to the getaway car.

Lee, who was three days short of his 64th birthday at the time, was flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He had lost a lot of blood and several teeth, and suffered a broken nose. He has vision loss in one eye and impaired hearing because of the assault.

“He said he has a permanent haze or cloud across his eye that was never there before,” Himes said.

Jones’ mask came off during the assault and the victim’s wife, Virginia, was able to identify him when she heard the commotion and came running out of the house.

Lee had befriended Jones and employed him as a cook at Wing Man, and would pay him for doing chores at Lee’s residence, said sheriff’s investigator Mike Caldwell.

“The victim testified that if he hadn’t been identified as the one who did this, it never would have entered his mind that it was him because he cared about him and it was just such a surprise to him,” Himes said.

Sheriff’s deputies found Jones hiding in a closet at his residence, his boots covered in blood. Lee’s wallet was recovered outside Par-mer Brothers Grocery at 1698 Vernon Road.

Himes asked for a 15-year prison sentence, and defense attorney Ken Gordon asked for 10 years. Keeble decided to double the lengthiest sentence of the two co-defendants.

“This is a really serious crime,” Keeble told Jones. “You could have very easily killed the man. Mr. Lee is lucky to be alive.”

He said Lee won’t get restitution while the defendants are in prison, and prison isn’t likely to turn them into better people.

“The older I get, the less certain I am about what justice is,” Keeble said. “… What’s a fair sentence? I don’t have a clue.”

He said it “comes down to retribution, a statement that this is unacceptable. … To the extent that this ruins your life, you did it, son. You did it to yourself.”

Jones apologized to the victim and to his family. Jones’ father, Gerson Jones, also apologized to the victim.

Joel Martin can reached at jmartin@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.