Judge Spares Short Man Long Sentence to Keep Him from Being “Lunchmeat”

A Maryland judge has spared a man time in state prison because of his short stature.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Paul A. Hackner sentenced 25-year-old Marcus Freeman to 15 years with all but 18 months suspended on Monday after Freeman pleaded guilty to assault.

Freeman will serve his time in county jail.

"I'm going to take a little mercy on you, because I think you're going to be lunchmeat in the Division of Correction," Hackner said, noting Freeman's 5 foot, 1 inch height.

Any sentence longer than 18 months must be served in a state prison.

Freeman pleaded guilty to assault and entered an Alford plea to second-degree assault in a triple stabbing on Aug. 10, The Capital of Annapolis reported.

An Alford plea is an admission that the state has enough evidence to convict. It is not an admission of guilt.

Prosecutors say that on Aug. 10, Freeman got into an argument with his then-girlfriend, Ymani Connor, and her friend, Stevon Mathis. They say he threw a bottle at Mathis, striking him in the face. They also say he stabbed Connor with a small knife, nicked his brother with the blade and then stabbed Mathis in the chest.

None of their injuries were life-threatening, The Capital of Annapolis reported.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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