FARMINGTON — A former Eustis man who pleaded guilty Sept. 10 to spanking a 4-year-old until he bled entered into an agreement Monday that delays sentencing for 24 months.

A Franklin County judge also sentenced Paul Earle Pitcher III, 30, of Farmington to 364 days in jail with all but 60 days suspended. Upon his release, he must serve one year of probation for a domestic violence assault charge against the child’s mother, according to court documents.

Under the deferred sentencing agreement, Pitcher is required to complete anger management counseling to the satisfaction of his probation officer by Sept. 30, 2016. He is also required to abide by any protection from abuse order and to have no contact with the victims, according to court documents.

If Pitcher successfully completes the terms of the agreement, he will be able to withdraw his plea to the charge of felony domestic violence assault against a child under 6 and plead to a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault.

A misdemeanor charge of domestic violence terrorizing was dismissed, according to court documents.

Franklin County deputies responded to a report of domestic violence on April 22 at Flagstaff Apartments in Eustis in regards to the child.

While deputies were there, the child’s mother told them that “she was assaulted violently” in March “and was afraid to call it in,” Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said previously. She also told deputies she was choked during the assault, he said.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net