A 32-year-old Reisterstown man who stabbed a customer he claimed pushed ahead of him in a crabcake takeout line was ordered yesterday to pay $25,000 restitution but will serve no jail time.
Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Michele D. Jaklitsch suspended a 10-year prison sentence for Keith Anthony Rantin Jr., of the 300 block of Norgulf Road and sentenced him to five years probation. She said she feared the victim would receive no compensation if Rantin served prison time.
"I think that it is important for the victim to get his money rather than wait seven to 10 years when he gets out," Jaklitsch said. "He may never get his money."
Rantin declined to speak in court, but pleaded guilty to first-degree assault against 39-year-old Jeffrey Rites, 39, of Violetville.
Rantin's plea followed a trial in March that ended with a hung jury.
Yesterday, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Dunty recounted how a fight broke out during the lunch rush March 28 last year at G & M Restaurant and Lounge after a cashier asked who was next in line for crabcakes.
Rites stepped up and handed her a credit card, Dunty said, but Rantin insisted Rites was not next and shoved him "like a football player."
Rantin pulled out a knife, and Rites slammed Rantin's hand on the glass counter in an attempt to get the knife out of his hand, Dunty said. The fight ended with the knife hitting the ground and Rites bleeding.
Defense attorney Kenneth RaVenell said that Rites shoved Rantin first and pulled a knife first. Rantin stabbed Rites in self-defense, Ravenell said.
"The bottom line is, this is not just a case of pure violence," Ravenell told the judge. "What is so clear is Mr. Rites was the initial aggressor in this case."
A second knife was never recovered from the scene, Dunty pointed out.
In court, Rites said he spent nine days in intensive care and suffered from nerve, artery and tendon damage in his left hand. His left lung was punctured and part of it had to be removed, he said.
As a result of his injuries, Rites said, he has no job and more than $54,000 in medical bills. He told the judge the $25,000 would help give him closure.
"The last year and a half has been real stressful. I want to move on."