Teen Will Serve 18 Months in Prison For Downtown Beating

A teen charged with beating another Marblehead teen will serve 18 months behind bars and years of probation.

Michael D. Leoni, 18, of 14 Devereux Terrace, pleaded to reduced charges yesterday afternoon in Salem Superior Court.

Leoni pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of two charges of larceny from a person, two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and a single count of assault and battery before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.

Leoni was given a sentence of  30 months in jail, with all but 12 months suspended. He will be on probation for three years upon his release. 

According to court records, Leoni and his friend Michael Ehlert, 18, of 12 Reed St., beat the 16 year-old teen as he was downtown on October 29. The teen suffered injuries and had his cell phone and wallet stolen.

Ehlert remains in custody in lieu of bail. He will be back in court on July 1.

Ehlert's older brother, Zachary, 22, is charged with two counts of witness intimidation arising from phone calls allegedly made to the victim's home.