Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Ryan Meyers, 24, to a term of two years of probation for assault with a dangerous weapon during his sentencing hearing Friday morning in Cass County court.

Meyers had pleaded guilty to the charge during a previous appearance at the Cassopolis courthouse on July 8.

The incident for which Meyers was arrested occurred during the early morning hours of June 13, following a fight that took place between the defendant and 29-year-old Joey McGauvran at a residence located on M-62 in Silver Creek Township, just outside Dowagiac.

The scuffle between the two men broke out after McGauvran allegedly struck Meyers’ friend and owner of the Dowagiac property, Derek Collins, in the head with a frying pan, resulting in serious injury, the judge said. When Meyers went outside to grab something from his car, McGauvran followed him outside and confronted him.

“I recognize he was the aggressor in this situation,” Dodge said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. He was drinking and he was coming after you.”

In response, Meyers pulled out a box cutter he had on him in connection with his job. During the ensuing struggle between the two men, the defendant slashed McGauvran twice with the blade, leaving one gash across the victim’s head and another across his chest, said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.

“The head and the heart are pretty vital spots,” Fitz said. “If that blade was only a few inches lower with the hit to the head, it could have slashed his throat, and could have caused death.”

Officers with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the residence at 1:16 a.m., where they arrested Meyers for the attack. McGauvran was transported by Pride Care Ambulance Service to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment.

McGauvran is also facing prosecution for his alleged attack on Collins that night as well, Dodge noted.

While the 24-year-old, who had no prior convictions prior to his arrest, had been provoked by the victim in this case, Prosecutor Fitz argued that Meyers should still face some incarceration for his use of a bladed weapon, he said.

“Flesh and blood matters,” Fitz said. “They’re something that we protect and value in society.”

While the judge would normally impose some form of incarceration on perpetrators in these types of assaults, the fact that Meyers acted in self-defense, on top of the prior incident with his friend, made Dodge decide to sentence the Cassopolis resident to a term of strictly probation.

“Maybe your self defense wasn’t the most appropriate under the circumstances, and you should have tried to withdrawal yourself,” Dodge said.

When asked for comment by the judge, Meyers offered up an apology for his actions that night.

“It never should have happened, and it will never happen again,” he said.