MARION COUNTY — A 32-year-old Odin man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Marion County court to beating a Salem man with an aluminum baseball bat.

Sean Gaul was charged in June with Class X felony home invasion and Class 3 aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday to the lesser charge and was sentenced to 30 months felony probation. The Class X charge was dismissed.

In addition to the probation, Gaul will have to abstain from drugs and alcohol, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and complete any specified treatment. He will have to complete anger management counseling, pay court costs, and have no contact with his victim.

According to Lt. Andy Garden with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, they had received a call from the Salem Township Hospital Emergency Room reporting a 26-year-old battery victim.

Russell Wimberly was reportedly found injured along Route 37. He told deputies that while he was sleeping a man named “Sean” forced his way into his home on Farside lane in Salem and struck him in the head with an aluminum bat.

Wimberly, who was later transferred to a St. Louis area hospital for treatment, said the subject worked at Foster’s Salvage.

When deputies located Gaul at the salvage yard, he reportedly admitted to forcing his way into Wimberly’s home and beating him.