LAPLACE — A local man avoided extended jail time when he reached an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to home invasion.

Brandon Duhe, 31, of LaPlace was arrested a year ago for aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated burglary, home invasion and simple criminal damage to property. On April 10 he pleaded guilty to home invasion and was given a three year suspended sentence.

“After a review of the evidence, as well as consultation with the victim, the charge was amended to unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling,” St. John Parish District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut said. “The victim was consulted with regards to the plea offer … he was placed on three years active, supervised probation.”

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Duhe in April 2016 following a home invasion and altercation that took place at a Reserve residence.

The victim told deputies a male subject forced entry into the home and pointed a handgun at her and a 30-year-old male victim at the residence.

“The suspect hit the female victim in the eye with the opposite hand of the gun (hand),” a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said. “The male victim was not injured.

The suspect then fled on foot.”

At the time of the assault, the female victim was at the home with a male friend, an 18-year-old daughter and several other children.

Authorities identified the victim as the suspect’s ex-girlfriend. Along with striking his ex-girlfriend in the face, police said the assailant caused other damage to the home by entering the residence through a window.