Justin D. Costello pleaded guilty to third-degree felony assault. Under a plea agreement, two years of his sentence will be suspended, and he will be on probation for three years.
Court records say that Costello's girlfriend told state troopers that he began punching her one morning in November at a cabin they share before grabbing a 3-foot long scythe and threatening to kill her. She was able to escape as Costello swung the scythe at her.
Authorities say Costello was intoxicated when they took him into custody.
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