A Burlington, Vermont, man is facing sentencing this week for beating a female relative nearly to death with a baseball bat.
Prosecutors said James Scarola, a self-published author of horror and science fiction novels, hit the woman with a baseball bat on Sept. 22, 2013 and sexually assaulted her.
He pleaded guilty in March to aggravated domestic assault and no contest to attempted second-degree murder and sexual assault charges. He then said he wanted to withdraw his guilty pleas, claiming he didn't understand what he was agreeing to but a judge denied that request last month.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday and faces 20 year to life in prison.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
