AUBURN -- A Union Springs man will serve time in prison for threatening a woman and holding her against her will.

Jon Hewitt, 48, of Springport, was sentenced in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to a minimum of one year and a maximum of seven years in state prison for committing the felonies of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first degree unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Hewitt was also given one-to-three years for first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a felony, which will be served concurrently with the other sentence. He will have to pay $674 in restitution and fees.

Hewitt pleaded guilty in August to threatening a woman with two knives, forcing her to go into his boat against her will, and restricting her movements on May 19.

Hewitt's attorney, Douglas Bates, said that the defendant suffers from severe manic depression. While he said he was not trying to "minimize the seriousness" of the crimes, Bates said he was "utterly convinced" that the defendant's condition combined with alcohol and drug use contributed to Hewitt's actions.

Bates added that Hewitt was not on his prescribed regimen of medication at the time of the incident, but has now "re-established his equilibrium."

Before reading the sentence, Judge Mark Fandrich said that it is clear Hewitt suffers from mental illness, but he also poses a "significant risk" to the victim. State prison time is appropriate, Fandrich said.

Fandrich also stated that he would recommend Hewitt for a state substance abuse treatment program.

For more, read Wednesday's Citizen