HOLLIDAYSBURG — An Altoona man who injured a relative in June with what was described as a meat cleaver has been sentenced to nine to 23.5 months in the Blair County Prison.

Daniel Ryan Benson, 38, entered a guilty plea Tuesday to a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the recommended prison sentence.

Judge Jackie Bernard, who took Benson’s plea, asked in court if the victim recovered, prompting District Attorney Pete Weeks and Chief Public Defender Russ Montgomery to advise that he had.

In explaining what happened, Benson told Bernard: “I was attacked and I was defending myself.”

Weeks advised the judge that he made the plea offer to Benson based on the victim’s recommendation.

On June 12, Altoona police were dispatched to UPMC Altoona, where Benson’s relative was treated for a three- to four-inch cut on his arm that was bleeding.

Charges indicate that on June 12, the pair got into a fight at a residence on the 1400 block of Washington Avenue. Police said the relative struck Benson and that prompted Benson to pull a bladed knife from beneath a pillow and to swing the knife toward the relative and strike his arm.

In exchange for the guilty plea, Benson’s additional charges of possessing an instrument of crime, simple assault and reckless endangerment were dismissed.

Bernard also told Benson that his sentence will require him to undergo drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, plus cognitive behavioral therapy and to complete anger management counseling.

Based on the guilty plea to a felony, Benson will also be prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Benson, who has been in the county prison since his June 12 arrest, will be credited for time served toward his sentence.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.