Olathe ? A suburban Kansas City man pleaded guilty to poisoning his wife with weed killer that contained arsenic.

Prosecutors dropped a charge of attempted first-degree murder against Michael Vaught, 43, of Leawood, who pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated battery.

Rhonda Vaught was hospitalized briefly in August after taking a drink containing the poison. Michael Vaught also was hospitalized after drinking some of the same poison.

Sentencing was scheduled for May 10 in Johnson County District Court.

Vaught faces a sentence of about four years in prison under state sentencing guidelines, but his attorney says he will request a lesser sentence.

Rhonda Vaught attended the hearing with her attorney, Robb Edmonds, who said she supported her husband.

“She continues to want the best for her husband and family, and is going to stand by him,” Edmonds said.

Vaught’s lawyer, J.R. Hobbs, said he would seek a lesser sentence.

Rhonda Vaught does not oppose a reduced sentence, Hobbs told the judge Thursday.

Hobbs told District Judge Steve Tatum that he planned to present evidence at sentencing about a substance Vaught was taking for a medical problem that might have affected his emotional state.

Hobbs said the evidence wasn’t sufficient for a legal defense that could have been argued at trial.

Michael and Rhonda Vaught were hospitalized in August after Michael Vaught’s father found the couple nauseated and vomiting. Vaught’s father had gone to the home after receiving a call that there was trouble at the house.

Arsenic often is found in insecticide and weed killers. Neighbors said at the time that they saw officials remove a large plastic container of weed killer from the Vaughts’ home.