Man beat wife's heroin dealer with bat

LOCKBOURNE, OH (KTRK) -- A man took the law into his own hands and beat his wife's heroin dealer nearly to death.

His punishment was probation, and some in the community said they support him.

Edwin "Tony" Sobony 38, beat a man severely with a baseball bat after authorities said the man continued to share heroin with Sobony's wife.

Sobony was convicted in September by a Franklin County Court jury for felonious assault, and the judge in the case gave him two years' probation.

Presiding Judge Charles Schneider said he examined all the facts in the case along with a presentence report and Sobony's spotless record.

"So, I took all those things into consideration and overcame the presumption and I am comfortable with my decision," Judge Schneider said.

But he reminds people they cannot take the law into their own hands.

"I in no way support what Mr. Sobony did, I appreciate the frustration, but that does not support or condone vigilante justice," the judge said.

WCMH reports that since his conviction, Sobony has gotten hundreds of letters and online comments supporting him and what he did.

A neighbor who knows Sobony and his victim said, "I know what he did looks horrible on him, but if people would realize what he did was to protect his children. And those children's lives mean more than anything to me."

The victim says his skull was split open, 11 teeth of his teeth were knocked out and he is blind in one eye. He said he does not think the crime fits the punishment.

Before his conviction, the judge said Sobony told jurors he acted a little aggressively, but was just trying to protect his family.