Judge Spares Man Long Sentence Because Of Height

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A judge has spared a man who pleaded guilty to assault time in state prison because of his short stature.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Paul A. Hackner sentenced 25-year-old Marcus Freeman to 18 months in county jail on Monday.

Hackner, noting Freeman's 5 foot, 1 inch height, said he feared Freeman would be "lunchmeat" in a state prison, where any sentence longer than 18 months must be served.

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

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