AUBURN — A Lewiston man pleaded guilty to charges Wednesday in a stabbing stemming from a dispute over a couch at a Mechanic Falls apartment last summer.

Bryan Peabody, 18, of 24 Cottage St., pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and to criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, a felony.

A third, more serious assault charge was dismissed by prosecutors.

Peabody was sentenced in Androscoggin County Superior Court to 110 days in jail — the time he has spent in Androscoggin County Jail awaiting trial — on the assault charge. He was fined $300.

He also was sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of criminal threatening, but the judge suspended all of that sentence as agreed to by prosecutors and the defense. Peabody will be on probation for two years.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Matulis said the state’s burden at trial would have included proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Peabody hadn’t acted in self-defense.

The stabbing victim, George Ross, admitted he was “heavily intoxicated” during the confrontation on July 20 that erupted when the two men fought over which of them had claim to a couch in an apartment where they both had been staying, Matulis said.

At some point, Ross was stabbed seven times with Peabody’s stiletto-type knife that he carried in a sheath on his belt. Peabody sustained a minor cut to the webbing between his thumb and forefinger.

Matulis said Ross didn’t want Peabody to go to prison and wanted instead for the teen to get help.

Conditions of Peabody’s probation include no use or possession of alcohol, illegal drugs or dangerous weapons, including knives. He can be searched at random for those items.

Peabody must also have no contact with Ross, must seek mental health counseling, earn his GED and find a job. He is required to reimburse Ross up to $3,228 for medical expenses.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

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