The Findlay man who assaulted a Weston businessman and then fled in his truck has been sentenced.

Brandon Frierson, 40, appeared Tuesday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.

He had been indicted in February for aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; felonious assault, a second-degree felony; breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony; and grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

He also was charged in a second indictment for receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony; and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.

He pleaded guilty in September to the robbery, assault and failure to comply charges.

The remaining charges were dismissed Tuesday.

Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Anderson explained that on Jan. 19, Bowling Green Police Division officers at Walmart observed a truck reported stolen in Michigan.

A high-speed chase commenced westbound on U.S. 6 on dangerous roads.

“The danger that he caused due to the traffic conditions that night … should also be considered,” Anderson said.

Frierson eluded police and entered a factory just west on the railroad tracks on Route 6.

Officers found medical records belonging to Frierson in the stolen vehicle, Anderson said.

Frierson spent several hours sitting in the cold while police searched the area. When the business owner arrived at work that morning, he was assaulted by the defendant, Anderson said.

Frierson, in his presentence investigation, said he punched the man, took his truck keys and left, Anderson said.

“He downplays his activities so much. He was willing to kill to get away,” he said.

In fact, the victim had several lower teeth knocked out, suffered a broken left clavicle and needed 20 staples to close the wounds on his head, Anderson said.

“He suffered for a long period of time, caused by a very vicious attack,” he said.

The victim and his wife were in the courtroom but made no statements.

Frierson fled to Hancock County in the stolen truck, parked in front of a trailer where he used to live, then attempted to hide by walking into a factory with other workers. When he was stopped, he said he was applying for a job, Anderson said.

The defendant was wearing a coat he took from the Weston factory and shoes on which there was blood that matched the victim, he said.

Anderson asked for the maximum time allowed and that the sentences be served consecutively.

“This defendant has earned this sentence by his conduct,” he said.

“There’s more to him that just his record,” said defense attorney Kati Tharp.

Frierson is a Purdue University graduate, father of three and previously had worked as an airplane engineer, she said.

He has been a functioning addict since 2009, when he was prescribed legal pain pills after an accident. He tried heroin for the first time in 2013, was sober from 2016-2019, the began using again after his fiancée died in 2019, Tharp said.

She asked for a sentence that was commiserate with the seriousness of the crime and likelihood of recidivism.

Tharp earlier had asked that the robbery and assault charges merge, arguing that the assault was an element of the robbery.

Anderson disagreed. He said it is possible to commit robbery without causing harm.

Reger referred to a Sixth District Court of Appeals decision in a similar case and ruled the two charges would not merge.

Frierson apologized to the victim.

“I’ve been a druggy for a long time,” he said. “I was never trying to hurt him.”

He said the drugs didn’t make him commit the offenses, but they contributed. He said he had been awake for nine days on meth and fentanyl.

Reger said the fact that Frierson was on probation when he committed these offenses, “that is a significant thing for me.”

“The victim has lifetime injuries,” he said. “This is a serious offense which deserves … prison.”

He imposed a sentence of three years for the aggravated robbery, five years for the felonious assault and two years for the failure to comply.

The sentences will run consecutively for a total minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 11.5 years.