Calling it one of the most difficult cases she ever had to decide, New London Superior Court Judge Hillary B. Strackbein on Friday handed down a fully suspended sentence to a 26-year-old North Stonington man who had pleaded guilty to two felony assault charges for the Jan. 4, 2013 stabbing of two former friends.

Strackbein cited a number of factors before sentencing Sean P. McBride to 10 years in prison, fully suspended, followed by five years’ probation.

She said the state’s case had factual flaws and would have been difficult to prove to a jury, especially since all three participants admitted they were drinking and smoking marijuana that night.

She said that McBride, an employed college graduate and Eagle Scout with no criminal record, would need to continue working in order to repay victims Ashbow Sebastian Jr. and Brandon Brisbois for their medical expenses.

Along with a restitution order, the judge imposed strict conditions of probation, including zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, continued employment, a mental health evaluation and counseling, if deemed necessary, and no new arrests.

Should he violate any of the conditions, McBride is exposed to 10 years in prison, Strackbein said.

“You have exhausted any grace that the justice system has,” she told him.

The outcome left the victims feeling justice was not served.

Sebastian Jr., who is attending the University of Maine, did not appear at the sentencing hearing, though his parents, Colleen and Ashbow Sebastian Sr., were in the courtroom along with an attorney who Sebastian Sr. said might be representing them in a civil law suit.

Sebastian Jr. received 27 sutures and required follow-up surgery for a 12-cm wound from the scalp to just above the right lip. He still carries a prominent scar on his face that requires reconstructive surgery. He also suffered a stab wound to his lower left chest.

Sebastian Sr., an Eastern Pequot tribal elder, wondered if his son, an American Indian, would have been spared prison time had he committed the crimes. He said that because of the facial scar, people assume his son is a gang member.

“He was really quite upset,” Sebastian Sr. said. “He really doesn’t feel that justice was done in this court.”

Brisbois suffered an 8-cm stab wound to the left gluteal area, or buttocks, that required surgery and received four sutures for a cut to his left elbow.

Brisbois attended the sentencing and submitted a statement that was read aloud by Victim Advocate Beth Ann Hess.

“I speak for Ashbow when I say to Sean, ‘You are not going to slow us down, and we are not going to spend one more second thinking about you,’” Brisbois’ statement said.

McBride, who went alone to most of his court appearances, always dressed in business attire, sat with his mother until his case was called.

Asked if he wanted to address the court, he cleared his throat and said he was “deeply sorry for using the court’s time.”

“I have greatly learned my lesson,” he said. “I’m a changed person. I’m a better person for this.”

McBride has a job in social work, and his supervisor sent the court a strong letter of support.

According to court documents and testimony, McBride, Sebastian and Brisbois went to a party in a hotel room at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

McBride left the party after some girls made disparaging remarks about him and texted Brisbois from a nearby gas station to ask for a ride in exchange for marijuana.

Brisbois and Sebastian picked up McBride but told police they decided he should pay them $20 for the ride.

McBride, upset at the way he was treated at the party, did not give the men any marijuana or money and they began fighting after they arrived at the Yawbox Valley Road home of their friend, Kyle Hogan.

McBride slashed Brisbois and Sebastian in the face with a folding knife and when McBride followed the retreating men to the house, Brisbois struck McBride with a shovel, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

McBride, walking home from the Hogan residence, called the men after they drove by on their way to the hospital. He was later treated for a head wound.

The case created unusual acrimony between prosecutor Stephen M. Carney and attorney Kevin C. Barrs from the public defender’s office, who typically resolve cases collegially.

Carney said he thought a significant period of incarceration was appropriate given the seriousness of the crime.

Barrs asserted his client had acted in self defense, said the evidence did not add up and suggested all three men should have been arrested.

“At a trial, I think the best outcome for the state would have been a hung jury,” Barrs said. “Nobody’s happy. The victims have scars. He (McBride) is scarred for life with a felony conviction.”

Carney said state police had submitted arrest warrants charging Sebastian and Brisbois with breach of peace and misdemeanor assault, but there was not enough evidence to charge the men.

He said the state was ready to try the case and noted the parties had twice selected a jury before the judge stepped in with the offer of a suspended prison sentence.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN