Man Who Stabbed GSU Officer Gets Probation

Some members of Atlanta’s law enforcement community are upset that a man who attacked one of their own may not spend another day in jail.

Marcus Saunders was convicted of aggravated assault, possession of a knife in commission of a felony, and obstruction for his attack against a plainclothes Georgia State University police officer just outside Woodruff Park on Aug. 27, 2014. Saunders was shot by an Atlanta police officer, wounding him and stopping the attack,.

Prosecutors recommended Saunders serve 15 years, with seven behind bars. He’d already been incarcerated for a year when he was convicted, but the District Attorney’s Office was hopeful that he would do hard time.

Despite the convictions, Saunders was only sentenced to 10 years probation if he remains in Georgia, WSB-TV says. If Saunders returns to his native New York, the entire sentence will be suspended. Saunders’ attorney tells WSB-TV that the judge gave his client a light sentence because he didn’t know the man he was attacking was a police officer, now walks with a cane because of his gunshot wound while his victim has fully recovered, and had no prior criminal history.

Saunders must also avoid Woodruff Park and must maintain steady employment, WSB-TV says.