PARIS – Daniel Soucy tried to do too much when he came home and found his wife on the floor, unable to get up, an Oxford County Superior Court justice determined Friday.

Soucy, 50, of 243 Pine St. in Rumford, was charged with aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon after using a rope in an attempt to get his wife up, and, when he was unable to do so, leaving her on the floor in December 2005.

A nurse found her the next day and called for help.

Soucy reached a plea bargain with Oxford County prosecutors Friday in Superior Court, and pleaded guilty to assault and reckless conduct.

Justice Robert E. Crowley gave him a one-year sentence, all suspended, and two years of probation. This was not only less than what the prosecutors were asking for, but also less than what the defense attorney requested.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Beauchesne argued that Soucy should serve most of the one-year sentence.

“It seemed like he snapped, he ended up treating his wife like an animal,” Beauchesne said. “He tried to pick her up with a rope. He didn’t call for help. He had to be aware of the consequences of leaving her like this.”

Defense attorney Kelly McMorran said Soucy should not serve more than 30 days, stating that if he did he would lose his job and not be able to insure his wife.

After court, McMorran said this was a difficult case, but she was pleased with the outcome.

“There was no lasting harm (from the incident),” McMorran said. “She should have been in a nursing home.”

McMorran said Soucy used the rope to get her up because it was something he had seen the nurse do at one point.

Soucy’s wife is now in an assisted-care facility. Soucy supports her, her medical bills are on his insurance, but he has not had contact with her since the arrest and is barred from contact as a condition of probation.

His wife suffered rope burns under her breasts, on her neck and behind her knees, but there were no major injuries as a result of the incident, McMorran said.

“The bruises were examined closely,” Beauchesne said. “It was apparent Soucy had done something to her.”

According to an affidavit by Rumford Police Detective Sgt. George Cayer detailing an interview with the victim, while Soucy was pulling with the rope his wife was telling him, “It hurts, you’re hurting my back, stop. You’re killing me it hurts.” He was calling her profane names during the incident, Cayer’s statement said.

“I really am sorry,” Soucy told the court. “None of this was intended, the pressure was really high… I just snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore.”