Man, 27, pleads guilty to beating subway passenger with hammer a year ago

Thomas Scantling, who made national news last September after being captured on surveillance video beating a fellow subway passenger with a hammer, pleaded guilty to his crimes yesterday.

Though he was originally charged with attempted murder, Scantling, 27, of Cheltenham Avenue near Saul Street, agreed to plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of an instrument of crime.

He faces a maximum of 12 1/2 to 25 years in state prison when sentenced Oct. 27 by Common Pleas Judge Rose DeFino-Nastasi.

Scantling admitted his guilt during a July 29 hearing.

"I was off my medication, but now I see clearly and I want to take responsibility for my actions," he said.

About 12:15 a.m. on Sept. 4, the video shows, Scantling was on a Broad Street Line train when he grabbed a hammer from his backpack, then nudged his 6-year-old son to a nearby seat.

Scantling then turned toward his victim, a napping Dewayne Taylor, and began attacking him, dragging Taylor from his seat and hitting him even after the train stopped and the doors opened.

Scantling pushed Taylor - who was on the ground shielding his face with his hands - off the train and continued beating him on the platform.

Taylor, 21, has recovered from his injuries, which included a broken finger, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Housed at Norristown State Hospital, Scantling was ruled mentally competent to stand trial on July 7.