Md. Man Who Drove Truck Into Crowd Gets 18 Months

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A Poolesville man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for driving his pickup truck into a crowd at a drag-racing track in Monrovia last June.

Justin Wachter, 25, was sentenced Friday for one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault. He also must make restitution of about $7,000 to a man who was bruised in the incident and later developed a blood clot.

The victim's brother told police that he and Wachter had gotten into an argument at the 75-80 Dragway a year earlier. He says Wachter was apparently trying to run them over.

Wachter was convicted Tuesday after entering an Alford plea to the charges. In an Alford plea, the defendant doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges the state has enough evidence for a conviction.

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