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Max Sentence Sought For One-Legged Millionaire Ex-Con Who Beat Stripper

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Stripper Sophia Kandelaki with...Rev. Al Sharpton (via Facebook)

The DA is throwing the book at the one-legged ex-con millionaire who was convicted of assaulting a Russian stripper in January. Manhattan prosecutors want to sentence Thomas Hartmann, who was found guilty of smacking Sophia Kandelaki with his Rolex watch, to a year in prison for the misdemeanor assault. Hartmann's lawyer has asked for more time to respond to the prosecutions' 11th hour demand: "We're hoping he can stay out (of jail) altogether," said Joseph Tacopina.

Hartmann had claimed he only hit Kandelaki by accident, after she tried to rob him last April, hours after they had met at Baraonda restaurant near his E. 75th St. home, during a "dancing-on-the-table-party." Hartmann tried to portray her as a lying tax cheat looking for a big payout to no avail—jurors were swayed by pictures of her wounds, including a deep gash on her head. They may have also been somewhat swayed by her vivid description of herself as a gunpoint kidnapping survivor, a reality star hopeful, a stripper, a private shopper, a vegan chef, a singer, a composer and an expert in "deep, inner tantric massage."

Hartmann, a former Long Island construction worker, previously served two years in prison for stabbing a man in the face; he served another six years in prison after that on a separate charge. He lost his leg in 2004 after a Nassau County cop ran him over while attempting to arrest him for threatening and harassing his wife. Hartmann was awarded more than $19.6 million after a jury decided that the detective intentionally rammed into him.

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Comments [rss]

  • whodiditandran

    A "dancing-on-the-table-party". If the table had been like Harrtmann, that never could have happened

  • Dirk

    This is too much.

  • edgie168

    did he beat her with his fake leg or something?

  • TheRealCannibal

     "Gunpoint kidnapping survivor, a reality star hopeful, a stripper, a private shopper, a vegan chef, a singer, a composer and an expert in "deep, inner tantric massage."

    You forgot daddy issues.

  • RobertMosesSupposesErroneously

    One-legged millionaire ex-con beats Russian stripper! Another crime brought to you by Mad-Libs.

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