Ragland, Watson sentenced

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

Ragland Sentenced to 7-10 Years for Attack on Pierce 
Watson Given One-Year Sentence

.c The Associated Press 

BOSTON (Oct. 11) -- A convicted killer was sentenced to seven-to-10 years in 
prison and 
another defendant was given one year for attacking <A 
HREF="aol://1722:Celtics">Boston Celtics</A> star Paul Pierce in a 
nightclub two years ago.

Both men were acquitted Monday of trying to kill Pierce but were convicted of 
assault and 
battery charges.

William Ragland also was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous 
weapon (a knife) 
and received the longer sentence. He'll serve it after completing 21-to-25 
years he now is 
serving for unrelated convictions. Trevor Watson, given the one-year 
sentence, also had 
1 1/2 years suspended.

A third defendant, Anthony Hurston, was acquitted of all charges.

Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said neither the team nor Pierce planned to 
comment on the sentences.

Pierce was stabbed in Boston's theater district Sept. 25, 2000.

During the three-week trial, the prosecution's star witness refused to 
testify and fainted after 
she was sentenced to three months in jail for contempt of court.

She later testified, but recanted her earlier grand jury testimony, when she 
identified Watson
 and Ragland as the men she saw stabbing Pierce. She said she never saw eith
er man 
with a knife that night.