AUGUSTA — A Clinton man who earlier this year beat a man with a baseball bat, leaving him with critical injuries, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to the offense and was sentenced to more than two years in prison.

Jeremy Richard Brown, 30, will serve the first 30 months of a 12-year prison sentence followed by four years of probation for the April 16 attack in Albion. Brown was fined more than $2,000 and his license was suspended for three years for the attack and unrelated driving offenses that include operating under the influence, operating after suspension and violating conditions of release.

Justice Donald Marden imposed the sentence Wednesday at the Capital Judicial Center after Brown changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to two counts of aggravated assault as well as the unrelated driving offenses.

The aggravated assault charges against Brown were class A offenses, each carrying a potential 30-year prison sentence, because he had two previous assault convictions, including a 2007 conviction in Belfast Superior Court for aggravated assault.

“He has a spotty record,” Brown’s attorney, Charles Ferris, said. “He understands that.”

Prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Tracy DeVol, describing the attack for the court, said Brown stopped a car driven by Brian Dodge as Dodge was trying to pull out of an Albion driveway. Dodge got out of the vehicle wielding a baseball bat, which DeVol said Brown grabbed and swung at Dodge. Brown missed on the first swing but hit Dodge with the second, putting him on the ground. DeVol said witnesses described Brown swinging the bat as if swinging at a baseball to pummel Dodge about the head.

Brown hit a second person, Darcey Palmer, when Palmer tried to get Brown to stop the attack.

DeVol said Dodge was in critical condition for a while at an area hospital before leaving against doctors’ advice four days after the attack. His medical bills topped $70,000, DeVol said.

Brown had been free on bail on the aggravated assault charges when he was arrested July 18 in Waterville on charges of operating under the influence, operating after suspension and violating conditions of release.

Ferris disputed a portion of DeVol’s account of the attack, saying Brown reacted only after Dodge hit him with the bat.

“He was hit so hard that my client actually defecated in his pants,” Ferris said.

He said his client was still guilty of the charges, however, because instead of running away or ending the attack after gaining control of the bat, Brown continued to beat Dodge.

Brown told Marden that the attack was spurred by substance abuse and lover’s jealousy.

“It was stuff I shouldn’t have been involved in,” Brown said.

Ferris said Brown is addicted to drugs and alcohol, for which he has tried to get treatment. He said Brown, an Erskine Academy graduate who served honorably with the Air Force, is committed to changing his life.

“He’s hoping to use the time while he’s in jail to clean himself up,” Ferris said. “But for the alcohol and drug abuse, I don’t think he’d have the record he has. At this young age, to have a record like this is indicative of someone who does have some demons. He needs to work through that.”

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @CraigCrosby4