- OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters)
-- An Oklahoma man arrested on suspicion of beating his wife faced year
in prison and a fine. But when he spit in an arresting officer's face,
he got a life sentence instead, officials said Wednesday.
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- John Carl Marquez, 36, was convicted of "placing
bodily fluid upon a government employee," a felony that can carry
a life sentence because of the possibility of transmitting a potentially
deadly disease.
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- State judge April Sellers White sentenced Marquez this
week even though Marquez and the officer tested negative for any communicable
disease.
-
- Marquez also was convicted of assaulting a police officer,
and a jury recommended the maximum sentence because he had previous convictions.
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- Marquez, arrested several months ago, could have received
one year in prison and a $3,000 fine for wife beating, according to the
Creek County court clerk's office.
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- His lawyers said they plan to appeal.
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