BEAVER, Pa. — A man convicted of beating another man at the Aliquippa VFW has received his sentence.
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Judge ,Tesla sentenced Brett Leonidas Ours, 40, to 16-32 total years in prison on Tuesday.
Ours was accused of assaulting Preston Coleman for around 30 minutes in an unprovoked attack on Jan. 5 last year.
Investigators said surveillance video captured Ours punching Coleman in the face, slamming a barstool over his head, and standing on his throat. Coleman was nearly unconscious and defenseless when emergency crews responded, Aliquippa Police said.
A jury found Ours guilty of aggravated assault, strangulation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of instruments of a crime and three counts of simple assault in January.
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He was sentenced to 10-20 years for aggravated assault, 5-10 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and 1-2 years for strangulation. He was also sentenced to 4 months to 2 years for punching his then-girlfriend in the face during the beating.
“You heard Judge [Kim] Tesla say it’s rare for him to go outside of the standard range, but on three of the counts, he sentenced him to the statutory maximum,” said District Attorney Nate Bible.
Ours family was disappointed with the sentence, hoping for just five to ten years.
“I don’t think he should get 16-to-30 [years],” said Daija Basinger, Ours’ niece. “He didn’t kill Preston. Preston’s up and moving and is home with his family, so I don’t think he should get this at all.”
Ours was also charged with attempted homicide but was not found guilty of it. He took responsibility for the attack but said he was not trying to kill Coleman.
“Just because a jury didn’t think that attempted homicide was warranted, it doesn’t change the facts, and it doesn’t change what happened there that day. And I think Judge Tesla saw that and realized, ‘I’m going to give him this sentence, this is the sentence that’s deserving regardless of what counts he’s actually convicted on,’” Bible said.
Police took Ours into custody last February after police surrounded his house in West Aliquippa.
Coleman and his family declined to comment after the sentencing
“To continue to beat on somebody like that, this sentence really sends a message today that that’s not going to be tolerated in Beaver County,” Bible said.
Last week, Ronald Brown pleaded guilty to his role in the beating and will serve three to six years behind bars.
His daughter, Ireland Brown, was bartending that night. She’s accused of obstructing the investigation. She’s scheduled for trial in May.
On Tuesday night, Sergeant David Mosure sent Channel 11 a statement on behalf of the Aliquippa Police Department regarding Ours’s sentencing. It said:
“The violent and unprovoked assault committed by Brett Ours against Preston Coleman at the Aliquippa VFW over a year ago had a profound and lasting impact on Mr. Coleman, his family, and the broader community. Such acts of senseless violence cannot and will not go without accountability.
“Today, that accountability was realized.
“Through the diligent work of the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office, and the cooperation and perseverance of Preston Coleman and the Coleman family throughout the judicial process, Brett Ours has been sentenced to a term of 16 to 32 years in a State Correctional Institution. He has begun serving that sentence.
“This outcome reflects the seriousness of the crime and ensures that an individual responsible for a brutal act of violence is held accountable under the law. The sentence also helps protect our community and reinforces that violent conduct will be met with firm consequences.
“While no sentence can undo the harm caused, we hope this resolution provides Preston Coleman and his family with a measure of justice and allows them to continue their path toward healing.
“We commend the efforts of the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office and all those involved in bringing this case to a just conclusion.”
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