FARMINGTON — A Franklin County justice Friday accepted a guilty plea from a Carthage man accused of stabbing his girlfriend in the neck with a butcher knife last year.

Bennie T. Bowie II, 48, pleaded to a charge of aggravated assault, not agreeing with the state’s evidence but acknowledging that if it was presented to a jury he could be found guilty.

Charges of attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault were dismissed under the plea agreement accepted by Justice William Stokes. Bowie is expected to be sentenced at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16.

Bowie was charged with stabbing his girlfriend in the neck on Nov. 1, 2015.

If the case had gone to trial, Franklin County Deputy Andrew Morgan would have testified how he was called to the home and found the woman bleeding heavily from a neck wound. She told the officer Bowie had cut her with a butcher knife, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said.

A fight started when she told him she intended to move back with her father and he became upset, Robbins said.

She told police Bowie had consumed at least 12 beers and an undetermined amount of vodka. Bowie had reportedly also used intravenous heroin.

The woman escaped the mobile home and fled to Bowie’s truck. He got inside it and poked her several times on the left side of her neck with a knife, Robbins said.

Bowie got out of the truck, she locked the doors and he went to the passenger side door, reached through a window with his knife and cut her neck, according to her. All the while, he was hollering and threatening to kill her, Robbins said.

Conviction on the aggravated assault charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

The state is seeking a 10-year sentence with five years suspended, and four years probation.

Bowie’s attorney, Thomas Carey, reserved the right to argue for a sentence of less than five years and less than four years of probation.

Restitution of $7,190.23 will be considered during sentencing.

A charge of violating conditions of release was dismissed. Bowie was indicted on the charge when he tried to communicate with the woman while he was in jail.

Bowie will remain at Franklin County Detention Center until sentencing.

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