KITTANNING — A Ford City man could spend up to three years behind bars for his role in the beating death of a Butler County man last year.

Armstrong County President Judge Kenneth Valasek on Thursday sentenced 45-year-old Otilio Cosme to 18 to 36 months in prison.

Cosme in August pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 39-year-old James Sullivan of Donegal Township outside a Kittanning tavern in the early morning hours on St. Patrick’s Day 2013.

State police accused Cosme and three other men of killing Sullivan during a night of revelry and fisticuffs.

Dennis A. Rosenberger, 28, of Ford City previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced last month to 3 to 6 years in prison in Sullivan’s death.

The other co-defendants — Anthony M. Bove, 20, and Keith A. Brison, 34, both of Kittanning — are awaiting trial on homicide and other charges in the case.

Prosecutors say Rosenberger sucker-punched Sullivan, who was knocked to the pavement and rendered unconscious. Moments later, Cosme and the others allegedly jumped on and kicked the defenseless Sullivan.

The victim was pronounced dead less than 90 minutes later at ACMH Hospital in East Franklin Township.

An autopsy ruled that he suffered two potentially fatal injuries — an injury to his skull and a severed vein in his stomach, which caused massive internal bleeding,

The skull injury was caused by Rosenberger’s punch and the other injury was from the pummelling and kicking allegedly delivered by Cosme, Bove and Brison. Both injuries were factors in the death, prosecutors said.

At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Valasek also ordered Cosme to serve 100 hours of community service. The judge also credited Cosme for 72 days served in jail following his arrest.

Phone calls to Cosme’s attorney, Anthony Urti, and Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi were not returned.