A man who beat a store clerk with a hammer during a robbery will serve just over 9 years in prison, the Hennepin County attorney's office said Tuesday.

Andrew Hodge, 26, pleaded guilty to a Dec. 31 robbery of a small grocery store on the 3700 block of Portland Avenue S. in Minneapolis. He agreed to the 110 month sentence that came with the guilty plea to first-degree assault. In return for his plea, charges of burglary and aggravated robbery were dropped, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said.

Hodge admitted to breaking into the store just after 6 a.m. That triggered an alarm that notified police and a store manager.

The manager got to the store before police and confronted Hodge as he stole items, court documents say. Hodge used a hammer to strike the store manager in the face and stopped only when police arrived.

Hodge fled but was caught shortly afterward.

The attack left the store manager with some brain damage and the loss of his senses of taste and smell. He also underwent several eye surgeries, court records show.

Hodge may also have to pay restitution. That will be decided at a later time, Freeman said.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768