A Lawrence man who told police he fantasized about hurting people who angered him has entered a plea to beating an acquaintance in the head with a crowbar.

Barry L. Sterling, 20, entered a plea late Tuesday to the June 2004 attempted first-degree murder of Travis D. Adams. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped a charge of aggravated kidnapping.

Sterling will be sentenced May 13 and faces about 13 years in prison under state sentencing guidelines.

Adams, 21, said he’s mostly recovered from the attack but still gets dizzy sometimes. He said he approved of the plea.

“I was all right with it. I feel like justice has been done,” Adams said. “I was just wanting to get it over with.”

Police alleged that early on the morning of June 1, 2004, Sterling hid a crowbar in the sleeve of his trench coat, lured Adams outside his apartment and asked Adams to walk ahead of him. He then struck Adams in the head at least twice, according to testimony.

Sterling told police he thought Adams had disrespected him, in part by coming to his home when he wasn’t invited. Adams recently had turned in a mutual friend for growing marijuana, but Adams said he doesn’t think that’s why Sterling beat him.

Adams said he thinks it’s more likely Sterling was trying to impress people.

“Barry has a problem with trying to get acceptance with people,” Adams said. “I think that’s what it was all about.”

Adams’ mother called police after finding him in bed unresponsive and covered with blood inside their apartment at Westgate Apartments, 4641 W. Sixth St. Adams spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and testified he didn’t remember the beating.

Police arrested Sterling after a week-long investigation that included recorded phone calls between Sterling and a cooperating witness.