A 22-year-old Rice man has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after being found guilty of malicious wounding and petty larceny in a jury trial in Prince Edward Circuit Court.

Charles Allen Carter III was originally charged with robbery and malicious wounding following the December 2014 incident, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney James Ennis. The robbery charge was reduced to petty larceny, he said.

In addition to a five-year active sentence, Carter received three months of jail time from a revoked sentence.

Carter was also ordered to pay almost $2,000 in court costs. He was also sentenced with six months of probation.

“The jury recommended a sentence of five years on the malicious wounding and just a fine on the petty larceny,” Ennis said.

According to Ennis, Carter allegedly struck the victim from behind while standing outside of a convenience store last December, cutting the victim on his ear, causing temporary hearing loss.

“It was after that blow was rendered that he took the adult beverage from the victim which led to the original robbery charge. …,” Ennis said.