The Kentucky man who tackled Sen. Rand Paul last year pleaded guilty Friday to one felony charge of assaulting a member of Congress resulting in personal injury.
Rene Boucher was released on $25,000 unsecured bond and has a sentencing date tentatively scheduled for June 15, said Kelly Lovell, a case manager for Kentucky’s western district federal court.
Boucher agreed to a plea deal in January over the November 3 incident. Federal prosecutors have said they will pursue a 21-month jail sentence against him.
Paul sustained six broken ribs and bruised lungs in the incident, which stemmed in part over a dispute about landscaping.
Defense attorney Matthew Baker told CNN, regarding sentencing, the defense will “ask in general terms for mercy and leniency and hope the court will give it thoughtful consideration and consider a probated sentence.”
Boucher denied any political motivations in the attack.
According to the plea deal, which was discussed earlier this year, Boucher said he “had enough” after seeing the senator stacking more brush on a brush pile.
In statements to the Kentucky State Police and the FBI, Boucher admitted to running onto Paul’s property and tackling the senator while he was not looking.
CNN’s Devan Cole contributed to this report.
