Donald Garwood Jr. attacked Juvenile Probate Judge Michael McClurg as the judge left his courtroom in February. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to prison despite pleas for mercy from his family.

McClurg asked a visiting judge to hand Garwood the maximum sentence allowed by law.

Three weeks ago, Garwood changed his pleas to guilty as charged with retaliation. Garwood apologized to the judge, and his mother and daughter asked for mercy.

Visiting Judge Steve Shuff of Seneca County called what Garwood did a sneak attack.

Garwood was sentenced to four years in prison, which is a year shy of the maximum that he could have received. He also got probation and was ordered to pay restitution for medical expenses.