An Albert Lea man pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor domestic assault Friday afternoon in Freeborn County District Court for reportedly choking a woman in January.

Bradyn Thomas Ellingson, 20, pleaded guilty in front of District Court Judge Ross Leuning.

Ellingson was initially charged with domestic assault by strangulation and felony domestic assault, but those charges were dismissed with the plea agreement.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19.

He was charged after authorities were dispatched to a residence in January in Albert Lea. Officers found the victim, who was transported to the hospital. The victim reported that Ellingson choked and hit her and that she had bruises on her body.

She told an officer at the hospital that she had gotten into an argument with Ellingson because he thought she was lying to him. She said she remembered that Ellingson reportedly choked her multiple times and that she could not breathe. She also claimed Ellingson punched her in the face and dragged her by the hair during the assault.

Ellingson faces a maximum sentence of one year imprisonment and a $3,000 fine.

He also pleaded guilty Friday to escaping from custody in a separate case.