SYRACUSE, NY – A local man will spend decades behind bars after being convicted of kidnapping and torturing a former friend in a harrowing attack that left lasting physical and emotional scars.

Last month, a county court jury found Shah Powell, 36, guilty of kidnapping and torture stemming from a brutal incident that unfolded two years ago in a DeWitt backyard shed. Powell’s victim, Jhomiel Brown, became the primary witness during the trial, his testimony shedding light on the gruesome hours he spent in captivity.

According to Brown, the ordeal began on September 24, 2023, when Powell ambushed and restrained him, setting off a nightmarish sequence of violence. Brown recalled being beaten with metal rods, bitten, and burned with cigarettes as he pleaded for help. At one point, Powell bound his wrists to his ankles with duct tape, rendering him powerless and leaving him to drift in and out of consciousness.

But the attack reached a shocking climax when Powell used pliers to extract Brown’s front teeth, an act Brown described as both excruciating and surreal. In a desperate bid for survival, Brown managed to grab one of his own teeth and used it to saw through the tape, eventually freeing himself and escaping his captor’s grasp.

Powell, when called to testify, claimed the injuries resulted from a physical altercation tied to a drug dispute, insisting there had been no abduction. Prosecutors disputed Powell’s version, arguing he was intentionally misleading the jury while under oath. They presented evidence painting Powell as unremorseful and unwilling to acknowledge the severity of his actions.

During sentencing, the prosecution highlighted Powell’s lack of accountability, quoting his aggressive outburst after the verdict—he reportedly struck a wall upon hearing he had been found guilty. The judge presiding over the case rejected calls from Powell’s attorneys for leniency, declaring that the sentence reflected the brutality of the crime, not any decision to proceed to trial.

Before the proceedings, Powell had turned down a plea agreement that would have resulted in a 10-year sentence. His legal team later argued that seeking a harsher sentence after trial would be unjust, but the court remained unconvinced.

Ultimately, Powell was sentenced to 50 years in prison, a punishment intended to match what the judge characterized as a “completely barbaric assault.” Brown’s account, coupled with medical evidence, proved critical in securing the conviction.

The case has sent shockwaves through the DeWitt community, leaving many stunned by the extent of violence inflicted during what began as an encounter between acquaintances. Brown, who continues to recover, has become a symbol of resilience amid unimaginable adversity.