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Third man sentenced to prison in fatal beating
DAYTON — Antonio Gomez, the third of a trio of men convicted of beating Stephen C. Sipos to death, was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, June 30.
“We miss our son very much,” said family friend Aaron Sprowl, reading a letter from Sipos’ mother. “To not have Stevie with us is like not having air to breathe.”
Gomez, 19, his half-brother Robert Hancher, 24, and Hancher’s friend Robert Tyler Kleekamp, 23, will all serve time in prison for Sipos’ death. Hancher and Kleekamp were convicted of murder June 19 and sentenced to 15 to life in prison.
Gomez pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, his indicted charge, as the trial was starting. The three were accused of beating Sipos, 32, to death Feb. 2, 2008, in the parking lot behind the former Meercat’s Bar and Grill, 1227 Wilmington Ave. None of the three knew Sipos.
Sipos died of blunt-force trauma to the head and neck after suffering at least 10 blows to the head and neck, Kent Harshnarger, a forensic pathologist with the coroner’s office, testified during the murder trial.
Trial testimony indicated that Kleekamp and Hancher repeatedly kicked and stomped Sipos after he had been knocked to pavement. Gomez only struck Sipos once, but egged the other two on to continue the beating, witness Paul Credlebaugh, a former friend of Hancher’s, testified during the trial.
Hancher’s ex-girlfriend Grace Agullana testified that Sipos “made a pass at me” inside the bar, but that Hancher and Sipos settled it peacefully inside the bar after Hancher told Sipos that Agullana was with him.
Both Credlebaugh and Agullana testified that Hancher and Kleekamp attacked Sipos first, with Kleekamp hitting him from behind.
Attorney Mia Wortham Spells told Hall that Gomez had no criminal record.
“He did not intend to cause his death,” Spells said. “He has accepted responsibility in this case.”
Hall agreed, and said that Gomez did not deserve the maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter, which is 10 years. But he also said that, since blood was found on Gomez’ clothing, Gomez was probably more involved than he admitted, and so he did not deserve the minimum 3 years either.
Though the defense characterized the incident as a bar fight, Hall said “this was more of an ambush,” but credited Gomez for not coming into court with “some story.”
Sipos’ family did not differentiate between the three defendants in the statement Sprowl read aloud at the sentencing.
“His life was stolen away from him,” Sprowl read. “You are animals. What gives you the right to take the life of another human being.”
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