Zachary Wayne Whaley, 30, of Bonne Terre, was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison after pleading guilty to assault in the second degree. Whaley was initially charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The modified charges included first-degree assault and second-degree assault. Then, the first-degree assault charge was dismissed. The court sentenced the defendant to five years’ confinement for the assault charge.