A 52-year-old Lawrence man accused of threatening another man downtown pleaded no contest to aggravated assault Wednesday.

Prosecutor David Melton, a chief assistant district attorney, said James Campbell walked up to a man about 2:40 a.m. Aug. 14 in the 1000 block of Massachusetts Street with the intention of committing a battery against the victim and threatening him. According to a police report, Campbell was accused of using a knife to threaten a 22-year-old Leawood man.

“The state does believe that Mr. Campbell has a serious problem with alcohol,” Melton said.

District Judge Kay Huff is scheduled to sentence Campbell at 8:45 a.m. Sept. 28. Defense attorney Branden Smith said he expected Campbell to qualify for probation.