Superior Court Judge John M. Newson sentenced a 21-year-old New London man to nine months in prison Friday for taunting city police and spitting at an officer during an encounter in June 2013.

Newson told DeVonte West he could have avoided incarceration but for his attitude.

“If you had showed me you accepted responsibility for what you did that day, you’d walk out of here,” Newson said. “You’ll go to prison, and hopefully you’ll learn the lesson that you can’t poke the dog.”

West had attempted to fire his attorney, Sebastian O. DeSantis, prior to the sentencing hearing. Newson denied the request, saying DeSantis had performed “reasonably and competently.”

“The fact that you may not like the result is a different story,” the judge said.

Without consulting his lawyer, West wrote a letter to the Department of Adult Probation, which was conducting a presentencing investigation, in which he started with an apology but went on to say he was wrongfully accused and didn’t get a fair trial due to the color of his skin. He is African-American.

The judge, who is also black, had presided over West’s trial in September, where West admitted on the witness stand that he exchanged insults with police and spat at officer Deanna Nott when police went to his family’s Jay Street home on June 16, 2013, looking for another tenant. That tenant, Kenneth Hack, eventually surrendered himself, but the encounter led to West spitting at Nott, being shot with a stun gun by police Sgt. Robert Pickett and arrested. West’s mother, 46-year-old Henrietta Adger, was also taken into custody.

A six-member jury, which also heard testimony from police officers and saw a neighbor’s video recording of part of the incident, found West guilty of assault on a public safety officer, interfering with an officer and breach of peace.

Asked if he had anything to say at his sentencing, West shook his head. But when Newson began his remarks, West attempted to interrupt the judge twice.

“I just want to say, Mr. West, I think your attitude today is what this case is all about,” Newson said.

West had no prior convictions, and DeSantis, his attorney, said he would have been eligible for accelerated rehabilitation, a pretrial diversionary program that enables first-time offenders to clear their records after completing a probationary period, except that the police “wanted this case pursued heavily.”

Prosecutor Rafael I. Bustamante noted West had admitted his crime on the record and recommended “a period of incarceration based on public policy.” Bustamante said also that New London State’s Attorney Michael L. Regan had asked to review West’s court file prior to the sentencing and had returned it “without comment.” Regan could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

DeSantis, standing with West, said the Department of Adult Probation, in a presentencing report, recommended no prison time for West and said West is not a threat to society.

“Considering he’s now a convicted felon, a lot of opportunities for him have been completely closed off,” DeSantis said. “It’s going to make his life very difficult.”

Adger, West’s mother, has a case pending in the same court stemming from the June 16 incident. After judicial marshals led her son into the courthouse lockup, Adger cursed as she walked out of the courtroom with West’s son, Tacary, in her arms. The judge called her back and told her to apologize or face a contempt charge. She said she was sorry and left with family members.

West will be on probation for two years upon his release from prison.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN