A Winchester man will serve a year in jail after severely assaulting his girlfriend in December.

Joshua Couch, 36, of 126 Jefferson St. Apt. B, was arrested for second-degree assault, which is a felony offense. Wednesday in Clark District Court, Couch pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault. He was sentenced to the maximum of 360 days in jail, with credit for time already served.

Clark County Attorney William Elkins noted the victim was present in the courtroom and agreed with the sentence.

According to Winchester Police, Couch was arrested at his residence on Dec. 27 after the victim escaped and called for help.

The woman told police couch was extremely intoxicated and repeatedly hit her in the face, head and chest over the course of about four hours. She said Couch also choked her multiple times.

When officers arrived, the victim had “substantial swelling, bruising and bleeding” around her left eye, bruises on her neck and several lumps on her head.

In court documents, officers wrote Couch appeared intoxicated and had wounds around his knuckles.

Couch has been incarcerated in the Clark County Detention Center since his arrest.