An Ironton area man arrested April 2 in connection with the shooting of another man will spend four years in prison.

George Massie, 26, of 4656 State Route 141, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court to one count of felonious assault in front of Judge D. Scott Bowling.

In exchange for his guilty plea, a firearm specification attached to the original charge was dismissed.

Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Bob Anderson said the victim, Joseph Scherer, played a role in Massie getting the four-year prison term.

“The victim wanted us to do this,” Anderson said. “We had been offering more time (in prison) and the victim requested this. He understood there were some mitigating circumstances.”

Anderson said Massie had no prior criminal record; he had served in Iraq War and had returned home with mental health issues as a result of his military duties. These were among the mitigating circumstances that factored into his four-year sentence.

If Massie stays out of trouble while he is incarcerated, he could be eligible for judicial release after two years.

Authorities said Massie shot Scherer after an altercation on County Road 4 in Pedro. Scherer was shot once in the neck and once in the shoulder.