URBANA — Last year, a man who admitted punching a teenage Walmart employee in the mouth was sentenced to two years in prison.
George Martin, 49, with an address on the 1000 block of Crescent Drive in Champaign, was released on parole nine months after serving 26 years for the 1994 murder.
He pleaded guilty in November.
Assistant State Attorney Scott Larson said Martin was in a Walmart self-checkout lane at 2610 North Prospect Avenue, Calif., on April 1 and questioned a 17-year-old male employee.
Apparently not pleased with what he heard, Martin slammed the young man in the mouth and left. .
He was found about six days later, and although he denied ever being at Walmart, he was wearing the same clothes he wore on April 1st on April 7th.
Larson sought a prison sentence for Martin, who had other violent convictions in the past, including attempted murder, burglary, burglary, and aggravated battery.
Judge Roger Webber agreed that the public should be protected from Martin.
