Kevin Richardson, 22, and Robby Moses, 23, were sentenced Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, for the May 3, 2013 attack at the Riverwalk in Augusta, Ga., of Edgefield native Wesley Spires and his then girlfriend, Ashley Solesbee. Both Richardson and Moses were charged with attempted murder, armed robbery, and robbery for their actions in this crime. In a plea deal, they pled guilty in Richmond County Superior Court, Monday, and were sentenced to thirty years in prison; the maximum sentence allowed. Also sentenced in connection to this crime was 21 year old Dominique Hale. She was charged with robbery and hijacking a motor vehicle, and as part of her plea agreement, was sentenced to 5 years in prison and 5 years probation.

Spires and Solesbee were on date at the Riverwalk that May 3 evening when they were approached by Richardson and Moses who demanded the couple’s cell phones. Richardson and Moses then proceeded to beat Spires and Solesbee with metal bats before fleeing the area; Richardson to Indiana and Moses to Newberry, SC. Moses and Hale were later captured in Newberry on May 11, 2013. Richardson turned himself into law enforcement May 16, in Indiana.

The injuries sustained by Spires as a result of the attack were so severe that doctors were forced to remove part of his skull to allow for healing of his brain. Months after his release from the hospital, he underwent a surgery to replace his injured skull with metal plates. Spires and Solesbee were wed earlier this year on the one year anniversary of their attack.