Augusta - I'm guilty but I didn't do it. That's the plea an Augusta man who was charged with murder entered Thursday in order to get a reduced sentence.

41-year-old Michael Young is accused of fatally stabbing his domestic partner David Cox last year. He was facing a murder charge and a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted. Young pleaded guilty to manslaughter, and his plea agreement was accepted by Judge Michaela Murphy he'll spend the next six years behind bars.

Young entered an Alford plea and will spend the next six years behind bars. The sentence agreed to as part of his plea bargain consists of 12 years in prison with all but 6 years suspended and 4 years of probation.

An Alford plea is where a defendant enters a guilty plea but maintains their innocence. The defendant is pleading guilty because he or she believes there is sufficient evidence so if the case went to trial they would be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. "He still maintains his innocence that he did not stab David Cox, that he did not do it," Young's attorney pam Ames said outside the courthouse. "With facing a murder with 25 years to life versus a 6 year period of incarceration he simply had to weigh the risk of going to trial or pleading guilty."

Ames said with his failing health 25 years would have been a life sentence.

Prosecutors tell us the victim's family is satisfied with the plea agreement.

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