FOLEY, Ala. — A Foley man who pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the multiple stabbing of a childhood friend in August 2007 will serve a 15-year sentence and pay restitution to the victim.

Jonas Guerrero Flores, 29, an Orange Beach construction worker, also will pay court costs and fines, according to the Jan. 14 ruling by Circuit Judge Charles Partin.

The restitution amount will be determined within 60 days.

Flores changed his plea to guilty moments before opening arguments in the December trial and without any state sentencing recommendations.

The victim, Martin Valle Salazar, 27, a worker at a Bon Secour fisheries company, testified earlier as part of a presentence hearing before returning to his home in Mexico.

Salazar said he was drinking with his brothers at a Little Rock Road residence when an argument broke out. He then went to another party briefly, then departed after “one guy threw a beer at him.”

About 2 a.m., he arrived at another party where co-workers were drinking and he saw Flores, whom he described as a childhood friend he grew up with in Mexico.

After consuming about 15 beers, Salazar said he got up to leave.

As he turned, he said he saw Flores stabbing him.

“(Flores) was my friend. I don’t know why he attacked me. I have seen Flores with weapons, but he never did anything with them,” Salazar said.

The victim said he does not remember being airlifted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center where he remained 13 days for treatment of 10 stab wounds.º

According to Foley police reports, officers arrived shortly after the incident, and Salazar’s brother provided a photo and description of the suspect. At about 6 a.m., Flores was discovered exiting a wooded area on Magnolia Creek Drive. He then handed police a black-handled filet knife and said, “I’m sorry.”

Flores said the victim “started trying to fight everyone and struck one of his friends,” causing his face to bleed and swell.

Flores said he retrieved a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Salazar.

Flores said Salazar was not armed and had not made an overt gesture of violence toward him.

“I was just tired of him fighting everyone and acting like he was No. 1,” according to police reports.