PARIS — A Rumford man who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault July 10, contested the state’s case at his sentencing Friday.

John P. Messier, 41, had entered a guilty plea to one count of Class B aggravated assault. He was sentenced to three years, with all but five months suspended. He’ll be on probation for three years and must pay $4,000 in restitution for the victim’s injuries.

Police say he beat a woman, knocked her onto the floor and kicked out two teeth.

Messier said in Oxford County Superior Court on Friday that the woman attacked him first. He gave a lengthy statement on what he called “a dysfunctional relationship,” which he said mostly consisted of her attacking him. “I’m greatly sorry for what happened,” Messier said.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph O’Connor said Messier had no wounds consistent with being the victim of violence. He noted that Messier had already entered a guilty plea and couldn’t try his case at the sentencing hearing.

O’Connor said he didn’t have a chance to cross-examine Messier under oath, but if he did, he would have asked why, if he were being attacked, he didn’t call the police himself. O’Connor said the woman was on the floor, calling the police when Messier was kicking her.

Messier got a two-week stay of execution. His sentence begins Aug. 10.

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