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A man accused of invading a Maryville home and stabbing one of the residents pleaded guilty in Blount County Circuit Court on Monday. He was sentenced to eight years and is required to serve at least 30 percent of the term.

James Dean Harley Holmes, 26, Cates Street, Maryville, appeared before Judge Mike Meares and pleaded guilty to the charge of especially aggravated burglary. He was represented by Roland E. Cowden. Blount County Assistant District Attorney General Clinton E. Frazier prosecuted the case.

Frazier told Meares that if the case had gone to trial, the state would have proved that on March 3 Holmes entered the residence of James and Timothy Christopher, Grove Street, Maryville, with the intent to burglarize the couple. During the incident, James Christopher received “serious bodily injury” — and so did Holmes, Frazier said.

James Christopher testified at previous preliminary hearings that Holmes and another man entered his home and Holmes came toward him with a knife. During a struggle between the two, James Christopher said he was stabbed in the ear and shoulder by Holmes. He said he was able to get the knife from Holmes and said that he stabbed Holmes in his back and neck.

Jeremiah Lumpkin, 33, Knoxville, is Holmes’ co-defendant who was also charged with especially aggravated burglary. He was also scheduled to appear for a plea date on Monday, but his case was reset to 9 a.m. Jan. 23 in Blount County Circuit Court.

Frazier said Holmes was located on Cates Street in Maryville after the incident and both he and James Christopher were taken to University of Tennessee Medical Center. Frazier said that while James Christopher was at the hospital, he saw Holmes and identified him as his attacker.

Cowden and Frazier said that they had reached a plea agreement in the case. Holmes pleaded guilty as a Range I offender and received the eight-year sentence, of which he is required to serve at least 2.4 years before he has a release eligibility date.

Holmes was not ordered to pay a fine but will be required to pay restitution and court costs. Meares said the restitution would be decided within 60 days. Holmes is also required to have “no contact” with the defendants in the case upon his release from prison.

Cowden told Meares that there was a four-hour preliminary hearing for Holmes’ case in Blount County General Sessions Court, and said he believes “this is a good resolution of the case.”