Four more get prison for role in man's death outside downtown club

The last of 13 defendants charged with roles in the 2009 beating death of Jose Alicea outside the now closed Club 33 have pleaded and been sentenced to state prison, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Justin Cooke, Jonathan Fernandez and Ruskyn Garcia all pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Cooke got four years in prison, Fernandez three years and Garcia 7 1/2 to 8 years. The length of their sentences depended partly on their role in the beating and partly on their past criminal records.

Prosecutors dropped death-related charges against a fourth man, Michael Welch, who got 2 1/2 years after pleading guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the fight that broke out when Alicea got into an argument with members of a Lynn-based group that had come from a funeral.

The other nine people either pleaded or were found guilty. Eight of the nine have been sentenced to terms up to eight years; the ninth will be sentenced April 14, the DA's office says.