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Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Convicted Felon Shot By Victim Sentenced For Attack

Larry “Mookie” Lewis, who was convicted by a jury appeared before court to receive his sentence.

On August 22, 2025, a Zanesville jury returned a guilty verdict against Larry “Mookie” Lewis of Zanesville, after two days of testimony in front of Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly Cottrill.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hughes handled the case for the State, while Lewis was represented by local attorney Keith Melvin.

The crime, caught on video, showed that Larry Lewis exited a local bar and attacked a man.

Video showed to the jury proved that earlier in the evening, Lewis’s brother, Malik Lewis, lost a fight in the parking lot with another man. The initial dispute occurred when this other man, uninvolved with Larry Lewis’s charges, confronted Malik Lewis over Malik’s treatment of a local woman.

Jurors heard and saw evidence detailing Larry Lewis sneaking up on the victim, who had nothing to do with the dispute with Malik, and assaulting him. Several other associates of Lewis including Clarence “Clay” Davis and Malik Lewis, joined in the attack which continued until the victim pulled out a handgun and in an effort to defend himself shot at his attackers, hitting the defendant. The victim, in an attempt to get away from his attackers got in a car and drove away.

While the victim was trying to drive away, it is alleged that Malik Lewis retrieved a firearm and began firing across the parking lot towards the victim’s vehicle as it was leaving.

The Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted both Lewis brothers. Larry “Mookie” Lewis was convicted of Aggravated Rioting, a felony of the fourth degree. Malik Lewis remains a most wanted felon in Muskingum County.

Aggravated riot occurs when a person participates with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct, and the group causes or intends to commit an offense of violence.

Judge Cottrill sat through the entire trial, which included videos of the crime, and the testimony of numerous persons present at the scene. During his trial, Lewis tried to claim self-defense for the situation he caused.

In Ohio, self-defense is not available for a person who is at fault in creating the situation giving rise to the assault, even if that person is later shot by someone defending themselves.

At sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Michael Hughes urged the court to impose the maximum 18-month sentence, citing Lewis’s violent conduct and criminal history. Judge Kelly Cottrill sentenced Lewis to prison but not for the maximum amount of time and indicated he might consider early release.

“Repeat offenders like Larry Lewis endanger our community every time they walk free,” said Prosecutor Ron Welch. “This is his second felony conviction involving violence and he still refuses to accept responsibility for his actions. My office felt a maximum sentence was an appropriate request and we will oppose any early release due to the danger this defendant represents.”

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