DOVER — A 23-year-old Dover man was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to first-degree assault regarding shooting incidents in September 2015.
Alex Joseph was facing potential life in prison connected to separate incidents in The Hamlet community and Whatcoat Apartments that left a 20-year-old man wounded in the chest and suffering from a graze wound.
The victim did not appear for a scheduled jury trial on Wednesday, Deputy Attorney General Greg Babowal said after sentencing.
“This case was a difficult case to prosecute given the lack of cooperation from the victim,” he said. “Fortunately, we were able to resolve this matter with a plea that reflected the seriousness of the case and the involvement by this defendant.”
Alex Joseph
Joseph, of the first block of Freedom Drive, also pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy. Two indicted charges each of first-degree attempted murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony were not prosecuted.
Judge Jeffrey Clark rendered the sentence immediately following the plea in Kent County Superior Court. A year of Level IV detention was included, followed by probation; Joseph received credit for time served beginning in September 2015.
According to Joseph’s attorney Andre’ Beauregard, “The case centered on the tragedy of a love triangle between Joseph’s brother and another [man] over a girl …
“[The other man] brought a metal pipe to a gun fight and lost.
Thanks to the lack of a criminal record and a creative theory of self defense, my client will be released in a couple of months rather then a life in jail … and then move on with his life as a free man.”
Joseph was facing potentially 36 years to two life terms in prison, Mr. Beauregard said. He was arrested on Sept. 5, 2015, a day after the shooting, and indicted on Nov. 2, 2015.
He was incarcerated at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna.
In May, Joseph’s brother Johnson Joseph, 20, of Dover, pleaded guilty to felony assault and conspiracy charges and was immediately sentenced to nine months in prison to be followed by work release and probation.