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CASSOPOLIS — A Marcellus man who shot his girlfriend’s brother in the midst of an argument over a steak is going to prison after being sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Anthony Albert Sove, 23, of Marcellus, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and was sentenced to 29 months to 10 years in prison with credit for 118 days served, $1,608 in fines and costs and $2,864.58 in restitution.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to a concurrent term of 15 months to five years in prison with credit for 118 days served and $568 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Jan. 20 at a home in Marcellus. According to statements made in court, Sove got in an argument with his girlfriend and then pulled out a gun and shot her brother when he attempted to intervene.

The man was shot at least three times in the abdomen, spent a week in the hospital and is suffering from nerve damage.

Friday, Sove apologized for his actions.

“I have learned a significant lesson in all of this,” he said. “I’m grateful for my time in jail, I’ve gotten my GED. I wish this had never happened. I wish the best for (the victim), I’m willing to take any punishment honorably so I can get back to my family.”

Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman noted that the situation could have been much worse if the victim had died.

“He’s lucky to be alive and you’re lucky he’s alive,” the judge said. “You’re very fortunate he didn’t die.”

“What did you expect to happen where there was drinking, drugs, guns and small children in the home?” he asked. “It was a recipe for disaster. You could have shot one of your own children. Hopefully you’ve learned a lot. A few inches here or there and he could have died. Also think how this could have affected your children, all over a $15 steak.”

“Last year you were convicted of improper possession of a firearm and in spite of that, you didn’t seem to change what you were doing,” the judge added. “It didn’t give you pause to maybe rethink what you were doing. With the number of weapons in the home and the drinking and drugs, there’s not a lot here to mitigate what you did.”

“I think you’re sincere, young and taken efforts since then to get your education,” he said. “You’ll still be a young man when get out of prison. If your goal is to have job and a home for your family, you should start with not having drugs and guns in home. Everything escalates when you pull a gun and for heaven’s sake, please don’t fight over food.”