Man Sentenced to Four Years In Beating

Zachary Ehlert, 22, of Marblehead, will spend the next four years in jail after pleading guilty Thursday  to witness intimidation charges stemming from the arrests of his younger brother, Michael Ehlert and friend Michael Leoni. 

Michael Ehlert and Leoni were sentenced earlier this month in the beating and robbery of a 16-year-old teen last October.

Michael Ehlert was sentenced to a total of 3 1/2 years; Leoni was ordered to serve 18 months of a 2 1/2-year jail term.

According to court records, after the attack, Ehlert called the victim and the victim's mother. One call was after the attack and the other was three days later.

During the last call, he threatened the victims telling him he made a mistake in saying he was kidnapped, according to court records.

This isn't the first run in with the law for Ehlert; he has other robbery and assault charges, including an armed robbery in Crocker Park and a bomb scare he orchestrated, according to records.

Buxton and Ehlert's lawyer John Morris reached the plea agreement of four years. Salem Superior Court Judge John Lu accepted the sentence, according to the Essex County District Attorney's office.