A Hollandale man accused of stabbing a customer in a local bar pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Humberto Acosta, 22, pleaded guilty to a second-degree assault charge just before his trial was set to start. Acosta accepted the maximum statutory mandated punishment &045; seven years in prison and restitution to the victim &045; as a part of the plea agreement.

According to the criminal complaint, Acosta stabbed Brian Poppel, who tried to stop Acosta from harassing a bartender at Spanky’s Bar in Hollandale on Sept. 29, 2000.

Poppel and the bartender expelled Acosta from the bar. But, when Poppel left the bar after a while, Acosta assaulted him with a knife that was about seven to eight inches long.

Acosta followed Poppel into the bar and kept slashing until Poppel managed to knock Acosta to the floor. Poppel wound up with two long gashes below his elbow.

The prosecutor agreed to dismiss a first-degree assault charge in exchange for the plea.