By CBS-San Francisco

A Bay Area man has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for beating two women at a Lake Tahoe casino so severely that one victim suffered a miscarriage.

Douglas County District Judge Tod Young imposed the sentence last week on 27-year-old Huy Phan of Fremont.

Huy Phan

Phan pleaded guilty in December to battery causing substantial bodily harm, which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Phan is accused of beating the two women in a Stateline casino hallway on Jan. 8, 2012, while he was with his sister and four men.

The other victim has undergone multiple surgeries for facial injuries after being knocked unconscious.

Neither victim knew the others or what prompted the attack. They’re close friends.

Phan claims he was trying to protect his sister.