An Edgerton resident who would not stop giving a "'drunken hug'" to a friend then beat him with a hammer in November pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault during a hearing in Natrona County District Court on Thursday

David Taylor, who was 28 when arrested, entered the plea before District Court Judge Catherine Wilking.

In exchange for the plea, Assistant District Attorney Mike Schafer and Taylor's attorney Curtis Cheney agreed he would spend no more than five years in prison. Taylor also will be required to pay restitution, but that amount has not been set.

The maximum sentence for aggravated assault is 10 years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

Wilking said she is not bound by the plea agreement, and will set a sentencing date later.

Taylor had pleaded not guilty to the charge in January.

He remains in custody.

The case began late Wednesday, Nov. 22, when Dennis Farris, a friend of victim Michael Mondle, called 911 to report Taylor hit Mondle in the head with a hammer at Mondle's home in Edgerton, according to court documents.

Farris said Mondle was bleeding heavily, but was conscious. Taylor fled after the assault.

About 10:15 p.m., a Natrona County Sheriff's deputy arrived at the home and saw a large amount of blood on the floor throughout the house. Mondle was on the floor of the kitchen/living room and was pressing a blood-soaked rag against his head.

Medical workers treated Mondle's wound. He was alert and coherent, but was in severe pain. He walked from the house under his own power and was taken by ambulance to Wyoming Medical Center.

The deputy interviewed Farris, who said he went to Mondle's house to hang out. About 9:15 p.m., Taylor arrived in a red Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Both Mondle and Taylor had recently lost their mothers, and Taylor came over to speak about the deaths. Mondle and Farris were both sober, but Taylor was "extremely intoxicated," according to court documents.

After several minutes of friendly conversation, Taylor tried to give Mondle a "drunken hug." Mondle resisted the hug due to extreme back pain from previous injuries.

Taylor tried to force the hug on Mondle, and became physically aggressive.

Mondle told Taylor to leave because he was too intoxicated and obnoxious. He and Farris pushed Taylor out the door, and he seemed to leave willingly.

Farris later walked into the kitchen, heard a loud crash and Mondle scream.

Taylor was on top of Mondle and held a large framing hammer in his right hand.

Farris pulled Taylor off Mondle, placed him in a bear hug, and dragged him to the door. Taylor went to his sport utility vehicle and sped away.

Mondle told Farris that Taylor struck him in the head with the hammer, and the other man put a towel on the victim's head and called 911.

Other deputies searched the Edgerton, Midwest and gas plant areas for Taylor.

Another deputy went to the Wyoming Medical Center, spoke to Mondle and documented his injuries.

Early Thursday, Nov. 23, a deputy learned Taylor's girlfriend was at an address in Edgerton.

Taylor asked another woman to pick him up at a truck stop and take him to a cooling pond in Midwest. That woman drove to the residence of the girlfriend, who was scared of Taylor.

The other woman told deputies she would call Taylor and bring him to the residence. She did, and deputies arrested him.

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