CASSOPOLIS — On Wednesday, Terrell Donnie Nickens was found guilty of leading two juveniles in a vicious and bloody attack of an intoxicated man on the south side of Dowagiac.

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz stated Thursday, “This was a cowardly and barbaric blood-letting. The verdict sends a loud and clear message that such violence will be met with decisive justice.”

Jurors came back guilty on six felonies against 21-year-old Nickens, including  the life offenses of armed robbery and assault with intent to rob while armed.

Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle adduced medical evidence at trial that revealed a ghastly event.

Witness testimony during the two-day trial revealed that around 1:30 a.m. on July 22, 2010, Nickens, accompanied by two juvenile teens, falsely befriended an intoxicated Greg Calloway, who was stumbling down Dowagiac’s south side.

Once they reached an isolated area near  Ashland Street and Grand Boulevard, Nickens grabbed a brick and, from behind, began to pound repeatedly on the head of a bewildered Calloway.

The brick attack left multiple wounds on the victim’s body, including  two blood-gaping head gashes several inches in length.

Witnesses testified that Nickens then coolly instructed the two co-defendants to run Calloway’s pockets.

As the two youths obliged and extracted Calloway’s wallet while he lay on the ground covering his head, Nickens continued to rain brick blows upon him.

The trio then faded into the night, leaving Calloway in a critical condition.

He was eventually able to regain his feet and walk to the home of a friend where he again collapsed on the ground.

An ambulance was called and he was rushed to the hospital to stop severe bleeding.

Testimony at trial indicated Nickens repeatedly bragged about the assault to friends immediately after the event, then apparently went into hiding.

When apprehended several months later at a tough man contest in Van Buren County, for months Nickens lied about his identity and his actions against Calloway.

Trial evidence also revealed Nickens had been overheard trying to convince his juvenile co-defendants not to testify.

Nickens took the stand and claimed that he tried to stop the brothers as they attacked Calloway but wasn’t able to so he took off running, fearing he would lose his tough man contest fight card if he fought with the brothers to stop the assault.

Vohwinkle argued to the jury that the defendant’s claims didn’t make sense and were not consistent with the abundance of evidence placing the striking brick in his hand.

Dowagiac Police Department Officer Stacey Bazan investigated the robbery.

The jury also convicted Nickens of armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed, conspiracy to commit larceny from a person, larceny from a person, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.

He was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and conspiracy to commit assault with intent to rob while armed.

The 14-year-old was earlier waived by the Cass County prosecutor into adult court, where he pleaded guilty to the 10-year felony of larceny from a person.

His plea also required that he testify truthfully against his co-defendants.

He will be sentenced this Friday before Circuit Judge Michael Dodge.

The 16-year-old was convicted of felonious offenses in juvenile court.

Nickens is set for sentencing in front of Judge Dodge on May 13.