45 days in jail for cowbell assault

STARKVILLE, Miss., May 4 (UPI) -- A Mississippi man accused of striking a fellow university student with a cowbell was sentenced to 45 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Brent Vowell, who was initially charged with felony aggravated assault, pleaded guilty Monday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court to a reduced charge of misdemeanor simple assault, The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported Tuesday.

Vowell, who court documents said will serve his sentence on weekends starting May 13, was accused of striking Matthew Brasher in the head with a cowbell at the Egg Bowl Nov. 28, 2009, when they were both Mississippi State University students.

Brasher said he suffered a 4-inch laceration on his head from the cowbell.

A civil suit filed by Brasher -- which names Vowell, the university and the Event Operations Group as defendants -- is in the process of discovery.