A Stateline man who struck a sleeping man with a painter's extension rod with such force that he caused permanent hearing loss in the victim was sentenced Tuesday to five years in Nevada State Prison.
"This was a really horrifyingly violent act that very well could have caused the death of individuals," District Judge Dave Gamble told Reo Joseph Boren. "You can't go beating on somebody and not have serious consequences."
Boren, 44, pleaded guilty to battery causing substantial bodily harm after the Feb. 3 incident.
Gamble said he must serve a minimum of 14 months before he is eligible for parole.
Boren admitted the battery, but said he was incoherent from a head injury suffered the day before and couldn't remember what happened.
"It's the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life," Boren said. "I did what I did and if it takes me the rest of my life to pay back what I've done, I will."
Boren tearfully asked the judge to allow him to visit his dying grandmother before he goes to prison.
He said he was her primary caregiver and that she had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke and pneumonia.
Gamble refused to delay sentencing, but asked the jail to arrange a telephone call to the hospital or an in-custody visit before Boren is taken to prison.
He also ordered Boren to pay nearly $9,000 restitution for medical bills and lost wages for the two victims.
Boren's lawyer, Tod Young, said his client was invited to a party where he didn't know anyone, slipped on the ice and was taken to the hospital by paramedics for treatment which included staples in the back of his head.
Boren returned to the party early in the morning and struck two sleeping residents with a painter's rod he had in his truck.
One man suffered permanent hearing loss and the second had bruised ribs.
Young said his client had been drinking and didn't remember much of what happened.
"Mr. Boren acknowledges he was wrong," Young said. "He does have some remorse. Every time he hears about the gentleman with the hearing loss, he interrupts me and says, 'That's my fault.'"
After detailing Boren's criminal history, Prosecutor Mike McCormick said the state viewed the defendant as "someone who is combative and engages in fights."
"This sort of crime by this sort of person merits prison," McCormick said.
