CASSOPOLIS — A Cassopolis man who beat a drunken man with a brick was sent to prison Friday at Cass County Circuit Court.

Terrell Nickens, who Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz called “a very dangerous man,” was sentenced to 12 to 40 years in prison with credit for 216 days already served.

Nickens, 21, was found guilty by jury on March 30 of armed robbery, assault with intent to rob while armed, conspiracy to commit larceny from a person, larceny from a person, felonious assault and assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder.

According to Circuit Judge Michael Dodge, the incident occurred in Dowagiac on July 22 of last year at 1:30 a.m. when Nickens and two teenagers came across an intoxicated man, Greg Calloway.

Nickens beat Calloway in the head with a brick and instructed the teenagers to take his wallet.

Fitz said the beating left “ghastly wounds” and nearly killed the man.

Dodge said Nickens denied he was the one who beat Calloway at the trial, but testimony from the victim and his co-defendants said otherwise.

Fitz called Nickens’ actions “egregious and life-threatening.”

“He may have been a blow or two away from a homicide,” Fitz said.

But what concerned Fitz the most was Nickens’ previous comment, “This is what I do.”

“The court needs to let Terrell Nickens know that what we do here is protect the public and serve justice,” Fitz said.

Defense attorney Carol Bealor said the situation was not as “clear cut” as Fitz made it out to be and said he embellished what happened that night.

She also pointed out that Nickens maintains he wasn’t the one to assault Calloway.

Nickens’ comments were remorseful.

“That was a horrible night,” he said. “I was thinking all about myself.”

Dodge described the incident as a “vicious and violent street crime on a completely innocent, drunken man.”

The offense was Nickens’ seventh assault crime on his record.