NATCHEZ — The two men who pleaded guilty to assaulting two different individuals on the same night at Andrew’s Tavern in Natchez were sentenced Tuesday in Adams County Justice Court.

John Christopher Marsh, 27, 138 Cloverdale Road, and Mark L. Sturdivant II, 24, 1211 Plum St. Vidalia, were sentenced to six months in a county jail with five of them suspended and a $678 fine for court costs for disturbing the peace of a business.

They were also banned from entering Andrew’s Tavern.

On the simple assault charges, Marsh and Sturdivant were sentenced to a suspended six months in jail.

Both men are also responsible for restitution for medical bills on both of their victims.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office originally investigated the incident at Andrew’s for the possible involvement of a local group calling themselves 51-50.

The 51-50 group is apparently made of mostly white males ages 19 to 28, who participate in what Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield described as a “fight club” that practices mixed martial arts.

Mayfield said after further investigation into the incident, it was found that 51-50 was not involved with the case.

“It was just an altercation,” he said.

The incident occurred early in the morning Jan. 30 when two men, ages 44 and 29, were transported by ambulance to Natchez Community Hospital for injuries to the head and face after each was struck to the ground at Andrew’s Tavern.

According to the ACSO, the victims said they did not know their attackers or the reason for the assault, but the suspects claimed an altercation took place before the victims were hit.

Owners of Andrew’s Tavern also pressed charges against the suspects for disturbing the peace of a business.

Before they were sentenced, both men expressed their apologies to their victims and to Andrew’s Tavern owner Sammy Atkins.

Justice court Judge Charlie Vess said sentencing for the two individuals was a difficult process because he wanted to have a severe enough punishment for the two men without hurting the victim’s chances for restitution.

“The state and court have a moral obligation to punish those who have committed crimes to the fullest degree,” he said. “But if someone is sitting in jail and they can’t pay their fines or restitutions, that is hurting the victim. It’s the innocent people that I have to watch out for.”

Vess also applauded Andrew’s Tavern and the other bars in Natchez for their recent creation of a bar owner’s association to help stop violent incidents in city bars.

“I just want to compliment everyone who is involved in this for doing their part,” he said.