A SoHo panhandler accused of terrorizing Spring Street for years was sentenced to 10 months in prison Tuesday — but he could be back on the street within weeks.
Merchants and local residents begged authorities to lock up the crazed hobo after he allegedly threw a brick at a rival panhandler encroaching on his turf, but prosecutors couldn’t get a grand jury to indict Richard Pearson for felony assault.
Pearson pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge. There was an audible groan in the courtroom after the sentenced was pronounced because Pearson has already served nearly six months, and will be credited with time served.
His lawyer, Alex Grosshtern, said that with good behavior Pearson could be out in four weeks.
“I’m scared for the day he gets out,” said SoHo resident Christina Nenov. “He’s been terrorizing the community and a lot of people are frightened.”
Grosshtern said Pearson has not been advised to stay away from the area because “he never plead guilty to anything that had to do with that area.”