By RICK BROWN News Tribune

A Cole County jury convicted Mikel Brice on Wednesday on two counts of first-degree assault for attacking a Jefferson City woman and her unborn baby.

The panel recommended 15-year sentences on each count. Judge Patricia Joyce is expected to consider passing sentence on Brice in February.

Wednesday’s verdict concluded a two-day trial punctuated with testimony almost as unusual as the case itself. A key prosecution witness was characterized as a liar, a gang member, an arsonist, a ringleader and a witch.

Brice 19, was accused of being one of two masked men who attacked Naomi Baum in her home in November 1996. She testified she was held down choked, beaten and injected with a syringe that was found to contain cocaine and anti-freeze.

Ms. Baum was pregnant at the time with the child of Sandra Kenney’s estranged husband, who is now Ms. Baum’s husband. The baby was born without any apparent complications.

Sandra Kenney was convicted last year of assault for planning the attack. Richard Brinkman also was convicted last year of assault for helping Brice.

Janet Lene, who is serving five years for burglary, confessed last year that she drove Brice and Brinkman to Ms. Baum’s home on the night of the attack. Lene was a key prosecution witness at Brice’s trial.

Public defender Donna Holden, Brice’s defense attorney, attempted to discredit Lene's testimony. She called three women to testify that they had contact with Lene while incarcerated and Lene allegedly told them that she had lied about her role in the attack

"She said she beat up a pregnant lady and injured her with antifreeze, testified Christina Haynie, who was paroled in July from Chillicothe Correctional Center

Debra Lovell said she and Lene clashed about witchcraft while they were imprisoned at Chillicothe. Lovell said Lene challenged her to a "spiritual fight" for " the crown of high priestess of black magic," but Lene eventually "backed down."

Lene confessed during her own testimony that she once was a member of a Los Angeles street gang, and that she once set fire to an apartment.

However, Lone denied she attacked Ms. Baum. In an unusual move, Lene allowed her own attorney to take me witness stand to testify that Lene volunteered to help the prosecution without any deal for leniency.

"She felt like she needed to right a wrong that's what she told me," said attorney Rose Wibbenmeyer.

"She was "interested in making amends for what she did."

The defense argued Lene was more involved in leading the ^attack than she was admitting.

"Janet Lene is a liar, and she will say anything to anybody to get out of it, even her own lawyer," Brice’s attorney told the jury.

Prosecution witnesses testified they overheard various conversations between Brice, Brinkman and Lene indicating Brice was involved in the assault. Ms. Baum said Lene's physical stature didn’t match that of the masked assailants.

"The two pillars of the defense are just shot," assistant. prosecutor Bill Tackett concluded in his closing argument.

The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for around 50 minutes before finding Brice guilty.