A Clinton man who slashed his friend’s throat and stabbed him twice last year was sentenced under a plea bargain this week.

Kamren F. Adams, 21, pleaded guilty by Alford’s plea to third-degree assault. An Alford’s plea means he’s not admitting his guilt, but concedes the prosecutor has enough evidence for a conviction at trial.

The judge went along with the sentence recommendation presented by both the prosecutor and defense and sent him to jail for three months.

The assault was reported just after midnight on April 14 at Wilson Place in Clinton. Adams and the 34-year-old victim, Justin Hilleary, had been drinking and fighting earlier in the night.

Adams slashed Hilleary’s throat with a knife, cutting him from below his right ear, across the right side of his throat and down to his chest. He also stabbed Hilleary in the chest and in the forearm, causing a wound that went all the way through his forearm, according to a report by Detective Ed Wallace with the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Paramedics transported Hilleary to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, where he recovered after being in critical condition.

Adams was originally charged with second-degree assault, but Adams claimed self defense and the prosecutor’s case had holes. Eric Ohme, Island County chief criminal deputy prosecutor, said the victim couldn’t remember the assault and the only witness could not be located.

He explained that the state had the burden to prove the absence of self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt, which would be extremely difficult with the evidence.

As a result, Ohme said he worked out an agreement in which Adams pleaded to a lesser felony assault, but still calls for jail time and assures that Adams is responsible for the victim’s restitution.