LOCKPORT—A shooting that was originally charged as attempted murder and later downgraded to felony assault ended up Thursday in Niagara County Court with a misdemeanor plea that won’t extend the perpetrator’s prison time.

Garrett E. General, 23, of Oshweken, Ont., admitted to third-degree assault for the May 30 shooting of Alan E. Sahr, 25, in Lewiston. Judge Matthew J. Murphy III scheduled sentencing for April 23, but it’s academic.

Defense attorney James J. Faso noted that the law requires merger of misdemeanor sentences with felonies, and General is already serving a seven-year prison term for stealing a sport utility vehicle and three TV sets in Cheektowaga in December 2008.

Lewiston police reported at the time of the shooting that General shot Sahr in the back during an argument over General’s alleged practice of stealing cars and leaving them behind the home of Sahr’s aunt. Sahr was sitting in a pickup at the time.