One of the most serious assault cases in Coupeville in recent memory culminated in what a judge described as “a very unusual and heartwarming situation.”

Judge Alan Hancock lauded the victim, the defendant, the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney for taking part in a rare meeting that occurred prior to last Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.

“It’s an almost unprecedented situation for the court to hear about such a meeting,” Hancock said. “This is restorative justice, folks.”

Ryan Marti, a 17-year-old Coupeville boy, could have faced a decade in adult prison if either the prosecutor or victim had insisted that he go to trial in adult criminal court on a charge of first-degree assault.

Instead, a plea bargain moved the case in juvenile court, where Marti pleaded guilty to assault in the second degree. He will serve about two years in a juvenile detention facility.

Marti struck 22-year-old Stephen Fanelli over the head with a baseball bat at a teenaged drinking party in Coupeville April 10. In court, Prosecutor Greg Banks said Marti overreacted and “unreasonably believed” that he needed to protect his friend from Fanelli.

Banks said that Fanelli suffered a skull fracture and a brain hemorrhage. The blow broke the bones of the inner ear, destroying the hearing on Fanelli’s right side.

“All he can hear is a dull roar in his right ear,” Banks said, adding that Fanelli also suffers from balance problems.

Yet despite the serious injuries, Fanelli wasn’t angry or vengeful. Banks said the young man wanted to know if he could meet with Marti, who he didn’t even know, and ask him the question on everyone’s mind: What was he thinking?

Banks contacted Marti’s attorney, Terry Smith of Oak Harbor, and they set up the unusual meeting. They all met in Banks’ office. The attorneys mainly listened as the two young men hashed things out.

“It was quite a remarkable meeting,” Banks said. “Not something we see very often in the criminal justice system.”

Banks said he was particularly impressed with Fanelli’s wisdom and compassion. After the meeting, Fanelli concluded that he didn’t want to see Marti’s life ruined by one stupid mistake, but that there should be some consequences.

As a result, the attorneys worked out a plea bargain. Marti pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in juvenile court, where sentences are more lenient. Marti was originally charged with first-degree assault, which under state law must to be charged in adult criminal court.

At the sentencing hearing, Coupeville Marshal Dave Penrod spoke on Marti’s behalf. He said he’s always known the teenager to be a good kid and a hard worker. He was shocked to learn about the assault.

Penrod praised Fanelli for showing compassion toward “a young man who is not a criminal, but just made a mistake.”

Judge Hancock was obviously very pleased with the resolution of the case and commended Fanelli for his magnanimity.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me to hear this,” he said.

Hancock agreed with the recommended sentence and sent Marti to a juvenile justice facility for 104 to 156 weeks. Marti’s exact release date will be determined by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, based on an intake assessment and his progress in detention.