BUFFALO, N.Y. --- Less than a week after being released from jail, John Willet learned the fate of John Cirulli, the former Buffalo police officer who beat Willet following his April arrest.

"I had two misdemeanors and he had two misdemeanors as well,” said Willet. “I don't understand how he got one year probation."

Ciruilli was sentenced Monday in federal court to two one-year probation terms after video surfaced of Cirulli beating a handcuffed Willet. Willet served four months for a drug misdemeanor charge.

"It does seem as if there's some inequity in terms of how the law viewed Mr. Ciruilli and the law viewed Mr. Willet," said Phillip Dabney, Willet’s attorney.

Willet, who said he’s fortunate he had a better outcome, said his story is one of many in a national conversation playing out on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri.

"There's a lot of people in an uproar about a lot of things that's going with police officers and how they're abusing their power."

While he says he respects the judge's decision, Willet and his attorney said they weren't given the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement in Ciruilli's case or a chance to perform community service. Ciruilli was given the chance to speak to officers about the experience.

Still, Willet believes jail was his best option, out of fear of police retaliation.

"It kind of put me under pressure and made me feel like I had to look over my shoulder."

Ciruilli was one of six officers involved in the incident, though he alone faced charges. That, combined with lingering spinal injuries and what his attorney calls a lack of accountability, prompted the pair to file a civil suit Monday afternoon against Ciruilli, Buffalo Police Department and the city.

"To the tune of $3 million, which would include everything from civil battery, civil assault to those matters, which would include poor or negligent supervision,” explained Dabney.

In the meantime, Willet said he's a changed man.

"I served my time for my wrongdoings. I'm just taking it day by day and trying to obviously trying to stay off the radar of any police officer."