MOULTRIE, Ga. — A man who pleaded guilty but mentally ill in a 2016 attack on a Moultrie store owner was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison and 10 on probation.

Steven Duane Larion, who was 38 at the time of the attack on Tommy Kenyon, was indicted on eight crimes. He pleaded guilty to aggravated battery on a person over 65 years of age and exploitation of an elder person, and the other charges were dismissed.

This case arose on July 4, 2016, when Kenyon came to his store, Tommy’s Package Store, 1504 First Ave. S.E., around 9 p.m. to allow his employees to leave early and enjoy the rest of the evening, according to a statement from District Attorney Brad Shealey’s office.  

Larion was inside the store, talking to his girlfriend, who worked there, the statement said. He left just as Kenyon was approaching the door with keys in his mouth and boxes in his hands. The surveillance video shows Larion strike the 70-year-old Kenyon in the face without warning.  The blow apparently knocked Kenyon unconscious, sprawling him out in his own parking lot, the DA’s statement said.  

Larion stood over Kenyon and repeatedly punched him in the face as he lay there, Shealey’s office said. Larion then stepped back, kicked him in the head, and picked up a box, throwing it at him. Then Larion walked away.  

As a result of the beating, Kenyon had a fractured nose, lacerations on the back of his head, on his lips, and nose, according to the DA’s statement.  Due to his head injuries, Kenyon was transported to Archbold Hospital in Thomasville.  

Larion was indicted by a Colquitt County grand jury Sept. 16, 2016. He entered his plea on May 16 of this year. His sentencing was scheduled after the Department of Community Supervision provided the judge with a report on his background, Shealey’s office said.

“As part of his consideration, Judge Cowart was provided information that Mr. Larion has had numerous charges and convictions in both Colquitt County and Michigan for drugs and violence,” the DA’s statement said. “Regarding the mental illness, his attorney explained in court that his client has been evaluated by three professionals and had several mental conditions affecting his client stemming from a previous injury he had sustained.”

In addition to the time to serve and probation, Larion was also ordered to pay probation supervision fees, a crime lab fee, public defender fees, stay away from Kenyon and his store, receive mental health treatment, avoid alcohol and drugs, a search clause, a curfew, and pay restitution to Kenyon for his medical expenses.