Five people plead guilty in viral Cincinnati downtown beating case
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Five people have pleaded guilty in connection with last year’s brutal beating in downtown Cincinnati that went viral.
On Monday, four of the five men pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from the fight, while a fifth pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. accordingly Cincinnati Researcher.
The charges stem from a violent fight that broke out around 3 a.m. on July 26, 2025, at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets in downtown Cincinnati.
Defense lawyers for those accused insisted the fight broke out after one of the victims hurled a racial slur at a member of the group.
HEAVY FIGHT DOWNTOWN LEAVES BLOODY VICTIMS AS CINCINNATI POLICE INVESTIGATION STARTS
Jermaine Mathews appeared before Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Triggs for his arraignment in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 14, 2025. The charges relate to a beating that occurred on July 26, 2025, in the downtown area. (Matthew Symons/Fox News Digital)
Video footage of the fight later went viral, and clips showing the moment a woman was thrown to the ground and fell unconscious were viewed millions of times on social media.
One man was also seen slammed to the ground and struck in the head more than two dozen times.
Montianez Merriwether appeared before Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Triggs for an arraignment in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 14, 2025. The charges relate to a beating that occurred on July 26, 2025, in the downtown area. (Matthew Symons/Fox News Digital)
Those who pleaded guilty to felonies include Jermaine Mathews, 39; Montianez Merriweather, 35; Gregory Wright, 33; and Aisha Devaughn, 26, according to the Enquirer.
VIDEO OF THE RACIST CONSISTENCE HE SHOUTED DURING CINCINNATI’S SAVAGE FIGHT HAS EMERGED
Aisha Devaughn appeared before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Alan Triggs for her arraignment in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 14, 2025. The charges relate to a beating that occurred on July 26, 2025, in the downtown area. (Matthew Symons/Fox News Digital)
Mathews reportedly faces a maximum sentence of up to 4.5 years behind bars after pleading guilty to aggravated riot and attempted aggravated assault. The defense attorney had previously said the racial slurs were directed at Mathews.
Security cameras show Mathews approaching a man and punching him in the head. Minutes later, the man was seen slapping Mathews in the face before throwing the victim to the ground and then punching and kicking him.
According to the press release, Merriweather and Devaughn pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and aggravated riot. They each face up to three years in prison.
POLICE ARE ON THE PURSUE OF THE EIGHTH SUSPECT, ALLEGEDLY THE CINCINNATI ATTACKERS WERE WALKING FREE AFTER THE CUT-OFF.
Gregory Wright, 32, appeared in court on August 12, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is charged with aggravated riot and aggravated robbery for allegedly targeting a man during a fight and taking a chain from a victim’s neck. (David Ferrara/USA Today Network)
Wright, accused of ripping the chain from the victim’s neck after Mathews threw the man to the ground, reportedly pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor riot, with the most serious charge carrying a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
Dekyra Vernon, 25, also reportedly pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges stemming from the fight.
WATCH: Witness to viral Cincinnati beating describes scene of brutal fight
Charges are still pending against two other defendants in the case — 39-year-old Patrick Rosemond and 38-year-old Dominique Kittle, according to the Enquirer.
JD VANCE CONDEMNS ‘DISPOSING’ CINCINNATI ATTACK, CALLS POLICE HIRING CRISIS IN BLUE CITIES
DeKyra Vernon appeared before Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Triggs for her arraignment in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 14, 2025. The charges relate to a beating that occurred on July 26, 2025, in the downtown area. (Matthew Symons/Fox News Digital)
In March, an Ohio judge reportedly dismissed a disorderly conduct charge against a White man who authorities had previously said was one of the victims.
The beating sparked allegations that the incident was racially motivated; Political leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy, had spoken out against the video after it went viral.
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Those who plead guilty are scheduled to be sentenced on May 19 and June 11.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the defendants’ attorneys and the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office for comment.
