CASSOPOLIS — A South Bend man involved in the January armed robbery and shooting of a man outside the Ameriwood factory is going to prison after being sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Eric Demetrius Houston, 20, of South Bend, was found guilty of eight robbery and weapons charges after a late August jury trial and was sentenced to prison Friday. The incident occurred Jan. 21 when Houston and a group of others met Hartford resident James Smith outside Ameriwood Industries for a drug sale. Smith ended up being shot four times and his car was stolen.

Houston received concurrent terms of 11 years, three months to 30 years in prison for two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit carjacking and conspiracy to commit unarmed robbery, all as a habitual offender.

He was also sentenced to four concurrent terms of two years in prison for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The felony firearm prison terms are consecutive to the robbery and carjacking sentences. He has credit for 255 days already served and must pay $2,524 in fines and costs.

Cass County Trial Judge Mark Herman ruled on two motions before the sentencing, denying defense attorney Greg Feldman’s request to withdraw from the case and Feldman’s request to adjourn the sentencing to investigate alleged jury misconduct.

“You initially denied being there but later confirmed that you were,” Judge Herman said. “You claimed you were going to purchase marijuana and you didn’t realize that others had guns. You heard shots and you fled the scene. You never contacted police or assisted the victim who had been shot.”

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz described it as a “chilling case” that was “a couple of inches away from murder” as the victim ended up being shot four times in arms and legs.”

“Part of my job is to protect the public,” he said. “This is a man to be afraid of, who does this behavior repeatedly. I note the callous nature of the defendant. When asked why he didn’t call an ambulance when the victim was bleeding out, he said ‘why? Ain’t my problem.’”

Houston apologized and said he did not know what was going on when he went along for the ride.

“Nobody should ever be shot. I have to learn from my mistakes,” he said.