A New London judge sentenced Timothy J. Cote to six years in prison Friday for assaulting a man and dumping him in the Shetucket River three years ago. Cote, 39, had pleaded no contest to first-degree assault rather than face a second trial. A Norwich jury had found Cote not guilty of attempted murder in the attack on William Uzialko in July.

Cote, 39, had pleaded no contest to first-degree assault rather than face a second trial. A Norwich jury had found Cote not guilty of attempted murder in the attack on William Uzialko in July. The jury found him guilty of interfering with police but was unable to reach a verdict on the first-degree assault charge. Cote accepted the plea offer in August as the state was preparing to re-try him on the assault charge.

The jury found him guilty of interfering with police but was unable to reach a verdict on the first-degree assault charge. Cote accepted the plea offer in August as the state was preparing to re-try him on the assault charge. Prosecutor David J. Smith said Cote had been drinking with Uzialko and others under the Norwich Viaduct on Sept. 28, 2007.

Prosecutor David J. Smith said Cote had been drinking with Uzialko and others under the Norwich Viaduct on Sept. 28, 2007. He had left and returned when an argument ensued with Uzialko. Cote kicked Uzialko in the head and threw him over a wall toward the river, Smith said.

He had left and returned when an argument ensued with Uzialko. Cote kicked Uzialko in the head and threw him over a wall toward the river, Smith said. Uzialko was later found slumped over in the water, hanging onto a chain that secured a dock. He was semiconscious, bleeding from the face and ears, according to police. He was in a coma for several days following the incident, Smith said, and still suffers from a traumatic brain injury.

Uzialko was later found slumped over in the water, hanging onto a chain that secured a dock. He was semiconscious, bleeding from the face and ears, according to police. He was in a coma for several days following the incident, Smith said, and still suffers from a traumatic brain injury.Cote, who is represented by attorney Bruce A. McIntyre, was also sentenced Friday in Norwich for inerfering with police. The sentences will run concurrent to one another, for a total of six years in prison. Cote will serve three years of special parole when he is released from prison.

Cote, who is represented by attorney Bruce A. McIntyre, was also sentenced Friday in Norwich for inerfering with police. The sentences will run concurrent to one another, for a total of six years in prison. Cote will serve three years of special parole when he is released from prison. "I wasn't there that day, but whatever happened was a callous attack, driven by substance abuse," said Judge Susan B. Handy. She told Cote, who has a history of drug- and alcohol-related crimes, to get a handle on his substance abuse problem, or "this is going to be a revolving door."

"I wasn't there that day, but whatever happened was a callous attack, driven by substance abuse," said Judge Susan B. Handy. She told Cote, who has a history of drug- and alcohol-related crimes, to get a handle on his substance abuse problem, or "this is going to be a revolving door." k.florin@theday.com

k.florin@theday.com