Teen Sentenced to Prison for Baseball Bat Beating in South Riding Drug Deal

Judge Benjamin N. A. Kendrick sentenced Erick Joseph Cox, 19, of Oakton, this week to four years and 11 months in the Virginia Department of Corrections in connection with a December 2011 beating in South Riding.

Cox pled guilty Nov. 13 to one count of felony malicious wounding in Loudoun County Circuit Court.

"In the early morning hours of Dec. 10, 2011, Cox and two friends traveled to a residence in South Riding to purchase illegal drugs," a news release from the Commonwealth's Attorney's office in Loudoun County states. "When the resident exited his home to meet with Cox and the other individuals he was viciously attacked."

Witnesses reported that Cox struck the victim with a baseball bat, immediately knocking him to the ground, according to the news release. Cox repeatedly hit the victim with the bat as he screamed out for help from the ground. When Cox was finished beating the victim he proceeded to search the victim’s pockets for money and removed roughly $200 before fleeing the scene. 

The victim suffered multiple contusions, lacerations, and has permanent physical injuries including multiple scars on his face. As part of his sentence, Cox was ordered to pay restitution in excess of $40,000 to the victim’s family and insurance company for medical expenses incurred as a result of the attack. 

In addition to the prison sentence, Kendrick imposed five years and one month of suspended time. Upon his release from prison, Cox will be placed on supervised probation for a period of five years. Should he violate the terms of his supervised probation a portion of or any balance of the suspended time may be imposed by the Court.