An East Toledo man will receive 10-15 years for a beating death, opting to take a plea deal rather than prove self-defense to a jury.

Judge Lori Olender said going to trial would have been risky gamble like “rolling the dice.”

James Friess, 42, of the 2300 block of Caledonia Street, was sentenced Thursday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court after entering an Alford plea for the beating death of Sherman Ryan, 42, in December.

Friess maintains his innocence through the plea deal, still arguing that he and his son were protecting themselves. He will serve a minimum of 10 years for an involuntary manslaughter charge, which could be extended to 15 years depending on behavior, and 30 days for tampering with evidence, which will be served concurrently.

The charges stem from a Dec. 22 incident

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