ST. CHARLES COUNTY • A St. Charles County man who punched a cabbie to get out of his fare got a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft and assault.

Dionne Lamont Gatling Jr., 20, of the 4400 block of Austin Valley Court, entered the plea Monday before Associate Circuit Judge Norman C. Steimel III. In addition to a two-year suspended sentence, Gatling got one day of "shock time" in jail and 20 hours of community service.

According to police, in April, Gatling got a ride from north St. Louis County to an address on Harvester Square. When the Laclede Cab driver told Gatling he owed $48.60, Gatling tried to leave without paying.

The driver, 53, grabbed Gatling to try to stop him, and Gatling punched the driver twice in the face, police said. Gatling then ran off.

The driver called 911 about 4:07 p.m., and while police were searching the area, Gatling called police claiming he'd been assaulted by the cab driver. Apparently Gatling realized he had left his ID and Social Security card in the cab's back seat, police said.

Police met up with Gatling and took him into custody.

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