AUBURN -- A 30-year-old man was sentenced to four years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision for body-slamming another man head first into Franklin Street New Year's Day.

Michael Gesin, of 3 Beach Ave., Auburn, and Myrtle Beach, S.C., pursued a man down the street before slamming him into the pavement. The man's injuries to his head and neck required neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery costing more than $56,000, Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann said in Cayuga County Court Tuesday. Gesin was convicted of second-degree assault following a guilty plea to the incident.

Gesin admitted to a prior felony forgery conviction from 2000 in Tompkins County.

Judge Mark Fandrich said the two felony convictions and other arrests on Gesin's record demonstrated he had not learned his lesson to behave himself. He also ordered Gesin to pay the victim restitution, but that may be converted into a judgment against Gesin.

An order of protection was granted for the victim.

Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.