WBRZ - Baton Rouge

NEW ORLEANS- A man who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about what he saw near a New Orleans bridge where police shot unarmed residents after Hurricane Katrina has been sentenced to 8 months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan on Wednesday also sentenced Marion David Ryder of Opelousas, La., to 8 months of home confinement after his prison term is completed.

After the sentencing, Ryder apologized and hugged Lance Madison.

Ryder had falsely accused Madison of having a gun on the Danziger Bridge when police opened fire, killing two people and wounding four in September 2005, less than a week after Katrina struck.

Ryder had faced a possible maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.