A St. Joseph man has pleaded guilty on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 36-year-old Robert J. Martinez earlier this year

48-year-old Hank Cooper pleaded guilty Tuesday to a class c felony for involuntary manslaughter.

As we previously reported, police responded June 27 to find Martinez in the 1400 block of Penn Street seriously injured from an alleged assault. Martinez was transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment where he later died.

According to court documents Cooper allegedly committed first-degree assault against Martinez by striking with his fists multiple times and hitting him with a wooden pole.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8.