Though prosecutors sought two months of jail time for Hiram Monserrate — who was convicted of misdemeanor assault earlier this year for dragging his girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, through the hallway after [clears throat] accidentally smashing a glass into her face — a judge today sentenced him today to three years of probation, 250 hours of community service, and 52 weeks of domestic-abuse counseling instead. Judge Erlbaum had some harsh words for both Giraldo and Monserrate, however. To Giraldo, he wished she would one day "have the self-respect to stop acting like a slave." And, referring to Monserrate, Erlbaum noted that the "legislature has in its chamber a flawed human being. Perhaps there are others." Perhaps. Heh.

Monserrate gets probation in gal pal assault [NYP]