Marion men plead guilty to assault, burglary in incident with Monticello teens

Two Marion men pleaded guilty today in Linn County District Court to lesser charges for stabbing and beating two Monticello teens after breaking into a Marion home last year.

Anthony McNeese and Justin Smith, both 24, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury. McNeese and Smith also were originally charged with attempted murder, but that charge will be dismissed as part of a plea agreement. The men also face other misdemeanor charges stemming from the assault.

McNeese and Smith broke into a Marion home at 1076 Fifth St. Jan. 7, 2009 during a party with the intention of assaulting Jamie Chappell, 19, and Mitch Hayen, 18. McNeese stabbed one of the teens with a knife, and Smith hit the other with a baseball bat. Both teens suffered non life-threatening wounds.