Marion men sentenced for burglary, stabbing

Two Marion men were sentenced Tuesday in Linn County District Court to 25 years each for burglary and stabbing charges involving the stabbing and beating of two Monticello teens during a party last year.

Anthony McNeese and Justin Smith, both 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury and two charges of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. They also were charged with attempted murder, but that charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Both will also have to pay victim's restitution but it hasn't been determined at this time.

McNeese and Smith told the judge they broke into a Marion home at 1076 Fifth St. on Jan. 17, 2009, during the party with the intention of assaulting Jamie Chappell, 19, and Mitch Hayen, 18. McNeese stabbed Chappell in the chest and Hayen in the back with a knife; Smith hit the victims with a baseball bat.