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Leon Woods will spend the next 10 years in prison. Woods plead guilty in June to first degree felony assault just before the start of testimony in his trial.

Police charged Woods in October after he hit referee Peter McCabe in the face with his football helmet after a game at Edgerton Park.

Prosecutors say a phone call that was allegedly made by Woods from the county jail led him to take the plea bargain.

McCabe who's been officiating for the past 25 years says he's had reconstructive surgery to repair several broken bones in his face, but not all of his senses have returned.

Acting Monroe County Court Judge Mel Castro took over the case following the untimely death of Justice John Connell. Castro said Connell's notes indicate the terms of the deal, but the district attorney's office says it never offered a deal.

"I had made comments that if he was interested in something, and throughout he said he wasn't; he had no interest in any offer what so ever.” Assistant District Attorney Brian DeCarolis said. The words I used throughout, I told his attorney, were 'I think a conversation starts at double digits' and ten is obviously that. Now if Judge Connell misinterpreted that as an offer of ten, so be it, but there was never any offer."

When addressing the court, McCabe said it was disappointing that Woods never offered an apology other than he was sorry he got caught and would go to prison.

Even though Woods did apologize prior to sentencing, his pastor says Woods’ attorney recommended against reaching out to the McCabe family prior to Friday’s court appearance.

"We talked about his frustration, we talked about his anger and we began to understand where he was coming from in his actions,” said Reverend James Cherry, Jr. “Although they were stupid, they were dumb, they were thoughtless, they were reckless, I believe the young man was remorseful."

McCabe also told the court that there have been problems with semi-pro games at Edgerton Park for years. He said there is no security and questioned the permits that were obtained to hold those games there. His attorney says a claim was filed against the city of Rochester in January.

"I am exploring the possibilities of recourse for the McCabe family and for Mr. McCabe specifically for anyone and everyone who violated the rules of safety which led to this horrible event which should have been prevented and which could have been prevented," said Bob Brenna.

Woods' plea deal did not include restitution for medical expenses McCabe is now facing.
Brenna said a lawsuit may be filed to recover some of those costs.

McCabe says he was looking forward to beginning another season of officiating high school varsity football which begins Friday night. Now he says his injuries may never allow him to referee again.