A man who assaulted and attempted to rob a McDonald’s drive-through customer in December 2008 will serve 15 years in the penitentiary for the crime.

Circuit Court Judge Rodham T. Delk sentenced Quinton Lorenzo Harrell to 20 years, with 10 suspended, for malicious wounding and 10 years, with five suspended, for attempted robbery. The man also was found in violation of his probation on a previous charge, and the judge revoked that two-year sentence, giving him a total active prison sentence of 17 years.

On Dec. 7, 2008, just before 8 a.m., Harrell approached the vehicle of a customer who had just received her food at the McDonald’s drive-through at 601 N. Main St. As the woman stopped briefly to put her wallet away, Harrell approached her passenger-side window and motioned at his wrist, as if to ask her what the time was, according to prosecutor Robert Sandwich Jr.

As the woman rolled her passenger window down, the man reached in and unlocked the door, jumped into the front passenger seat, threatened to kill her and demanded money.

The woman tried to get out of her car, but Harrell grabbed her and began to punch her in the face, causing wounds to her face, gums and lips. When McDonald’s employees exited the store to help, the man fled the scene on foot.

Responding police officers canvassed the area of Church and Pine streets after receiving reports of a suspicious person running through the area. A police officer found Harrell hiding under a vacant house in the 1100 block of Day Street.

In addition to his prison sentence, Harrell must undergo mental health counseling and treatment, pay about $1,400 in restitution to the victim, and be on intensive supervised probation after his release.