STROUDSBURG – A New Jersey man convicted of attacking two men, including the mayor of East Stroudsburg, with a bat will spend up to 18 years in prison. 

Melvin Cowart, 23, of Newark NJ, was sentenced to a term of 9 to 18 years.  He could have received up to 80 years for the October 2006 attack that injured East Stroudsburg Mayor Armand Martinelli, and conservation official Craig Todd.

The incident happened when a car, with several people, including Cowart and a teenage boy, who apparently had been involved in an argument with Todd’s son, earlier in the day, arrived outside Todd’s home, where the Todds, and Martinelli, were watching TV.  The crowd refused to disperse.  At one point, according to the testimony, Cowart, carrying an aluminum bat, struck Todd’s son, and Martinelli, causing injuries to both.  Others in the crowd scattered, then  Cowart reportedly got back in his car and left.

The jury convicted Cowart on two counts each of aggravated assault with intent to commit serious bodily injury, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Cowart's attorney reportedly plans to appeal both the verdict and sentence.