Kurtis Leo Leany, 52, pleaded guilty as charged this week to one count of third-degree felony criminal mischief for breaking windows at Studio West Photography.

The conviction is punishable by up to five years in prison. But Leany said Wednesday he expects probation and 10 days in jail when he is sentenced May 6 by 5th District Judge G. Michael Westfall. Restitution has been set at approximately $5,500, according to prosecutors.

Leany damaged his competitor's windows five times during a six-week period between Aug. 5 and and Sept. 14, according to court documents. He told police he believed owner Karl Hugh was stealing business from him.

Leany, who owns Zion Photography, said during a Wednesday interview, "I was just in a really bad place, I couldn't see that it was the economy and I instantly blamed him because of things in the past."

Leany said he has been attending counseling to control his anger and learn forgiveness, and said he has no hard feelings toward Hugh.

"I feel bad for what I did," he said.

Leany was caught because Hugh was camped out inside his store with a video camera when the last episode occurred.

Minutes after Hugh reported that the vandal was in a black pickup truck, Leany was stopped by police, who found a slingshot, ball bearings and .30-caliber slugs inside his truck.

During a September interview with The Tribune, Leany claimed he lost his temper last summer, when the Miss Iron County Pageant switched its business from Leany to Hugh.

But Hugh told The Tribune at that time he had no idea there were problems between himself and Leany, to whom he had not spoken for a decade. Hugh did not immediately return a Wednesday call for comment.