A brutal beating committed during a robbery of $20 and marijuana left a man with cracked ribs and blood in his lungs and now two Pierceton brothers are each charged with three felonies.

The attack on the victim happened Sept. 29 at 208 W. Elm St., Pierceton. The victim told Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Detective J.D. Ayres that he was attacked by Austin John Frush, 19, and Bryan E. Frush, 26, both of 109 E. Elm St., Pierceton.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Detective Ayres, the victim and the brothers had just finished smoking “a bowl of marijuana” when one of the brothers kicked the victim in the groin. Bryan Frush is then accused of putting the victim in a choke hold, causing him to nearly pass out. The brothers allegedly continued to beat the victim before going through his pockets and removing the cash and drugs.

Two witnesses heard screaming and saw a purple minivan leaving the scene at a high rate of speed. When they ran to where they heard the screams, they found the victim bleeding and vomiting blood. The victim went to the hospital in Columbia City and was sent to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne for treatment of his injuries. He allegedly sustained a cracked rib, had blood in his lungs and the whites of his eyes were red due to being choked and deprived of oxygen.

Initially, Bryan Frush told police the victim punched a female who was also at the scene. That female corroborated the story but, when she was interviewed by Detective Ayres on Oct. 22, she admitted she lied and was never struck by the victim.

Both Bryan and Austin Frush are charged with Class A felony robbery causing serious bodily injury, Class C felony battery causing serious bodily injury and Class D felony strangulation. Bonds for both men were set at $50,000 surety.

If convicted on all charges, each man faces up to 61 years in prison.