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CASSOPOLIS – A Niles man is going to prison after assaulting and severely injuring another man in February. 

      Greggery Jason Williams, 35, of Niles, pleaded no contest to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to 29 months to 10 years in prison. He has credit for 66 days served and must pay $3,504.14 in fines, costs and restitution.

      He can serve his sentence in the Sentence Alternative Incarceration boot camp program if he qualifies which could reduce the length of his sentence.

      The incident Feb. 22 at a home in Milton Township. Williams and his girlfriend, Emily Thar, went to the home of Gregory Hammond, the father of Thar’s young daughter. Hammond was assaulted and received serious injuries. Thar is facing a jury trial next month on a home invasion charge related to the incident.

      Cass County Assistant Prosecutor Jason Ronning noted that a shovel was found near Hammond who said he believed he was hit with a pipe or a shovel. Williams has denied hitting Hammond with anything but his fist.

      “I’m not sure if he (Williams) fully understands what this has meant to the victim,” Ronning said. “He’s likely to be struggling for the rest of his life with the damage to his brain. He didn’t know if he was going to get out of the hospital. He struggles to talk.”

      Ronning said Hammond and his family agreed to the possibility of a boot camp sentence. “We talked about boot camp, they showed a grace and forgiveness I wouldn’t have,” he said. “They didn’t want him to be away from his own children.”

      Defense attorney Peter Johnson also thanked the victim and his family for allowing for the boot camp sentence to go forward. For his part, Williams apologized and said he would take back what he did if he could.

      “You say it was just a punch but it’s more plausible that he was hit with a pipe or a shovel,” Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman told Williams. “If it was a punch and carried that much force, you should be careful in the future.”

      “You’re 35 years old and you’re lucky you’re not here for murder,” the judge added. “Actions speak louder than words and you are violent … I hope you will think long and hard about your actions and raise your children that violence never makes things better.”