Former LI man jailed for assaulting woman

Two years after winning a record $19 million excessive-force verdict from Nassau County over an arrest that left him with one leg, Thomas Hartmann was sentenced Thursday to 60 days at Rikers Island for assaulting a woman outside an East Side nightspot last year.

Hartmann, 43, got the jail term from Manhattan State Supreme Court Judge Robert Mandelbaum despite defense claims that the woman -- Sophia Kandelaki -- was trying to grab money from Hartmann's pockets and he accidentally cut her with his Rolex while trying to swipe her away.

Lawyers for Hartmann also argued that the stump of his amputated leg, which is treated three times a week, may suffer medical damage in Rikers. The judge gave him until Friday to surrender so that he can get injections to protect against infection.

"Of course I'm disappointed," Hartmann said afterward. "But what is 60 days? It's more of an inconvenience. I am a little worried about the medical care."

Hartmann's lawyers are seeking a stay of the sentence from an appeals court, but said they don't expect a hearing until next week.

Hartmann, formerly of Long Beach, lives in Manhattan. He lost his leg in 2004 when Nassau police ran over him with a cruiser while trying to arrest him for violating an order of protection for his ex-wife. A Brooklyn federal court jury awarded him $19 million in 2010, and he settled with the county for $15 million.

Prosecutor Jennifer Sigall asked the judge to put Hartmann in jail for a year, the maximum for assault. She said he had a criminal record dating back 20 years, and the victim had to get 16 stitches. Referring to attacks on the victim's credibility at trial, Sigall said, "It doesn't matter whether she is a prostitute or an escort, whether she paid her taxes or didn't."

Defense lawyer Joe Tacopina said Hartmann had a difficult childhood and his criminal record was insubstantial during the past two decades.

Since becoming a multimillionaire, he said, Hartmann has given generously -- more than $150,000 -- to charities and needy families, involved himself in support groups for other amputees and become engaged to a vice president at a Wall Street investment bank.

Hartmann, speaking briefly to the judge, said of the incident, "I never meant to hit her."

Mandelbaum ordered special medical attention at Rikers. He said Hartmann will be on probation for three years after his release, and he ordered him to undergo anger management counseling.