No Jail Time For Ex-B.C. Football Player In Homeless Beating
BOSTON (CBS) -- A former Boston College football player pleaded guilty Monday to an assault on a homeless man in Boston.
Craig Parsons of West Newton was charged with aggravated assault in the January beating of the 50-year-old man.
A woman passing by jumped in to stop the attack by the 23-year-old.
On Monday a judge suspended Parsons' two-and-a-half-year sentence and placed him on probation for five years.
Prosecutors wanted Parsons to serve time in prison.
"This was a case of repugnant violence," Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said. "We stand by our recommendation that state prison was the most appropriate punishment for an utterly senseless attack on a man who posed no threat to the defendant."
But Parsons' lawyer, Michael Doolin, said the former football player has been apologetic about his actions.
"He's paid a price already and he'll pay a price in the future," Doolin said. "It's one unfortunate night in the life of an individual that has been spent very well other than that."
A 24-year-old Medway man was also charged in the attack, and will be in court on similar charges next month.
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