Man sentenced for spitting on officer

A New Castle felon infected with hepatitis C has been sentenced to three years in prison for spitting blood into the face of a police officer.

Anthony James Hopkins, 27, had pleaded guilty to battery by body waste. He spit on the officer last April after authorities were called to a domestic disturbance at his Q Avenue home.

After spitting on the officer, Hopkins told him he hoped he developed hepatitis C “and give it to your wife and kids.” The blood-borne disease can cause life-threatening liver ailments.

Henry Circuit Court 2 Judge Kit Crane last week sentenced Hopkins to six years in prison with three years suspended. Hopkins, given credit for 293 days already spent in jail, will be on probation for three years upon his release.

Since 2007, the New Castle man has also been convicted of burglary, battery, receiving stolen property and driving while intoxicated.