A southern Indiana judge facing seven criminal charges for his role in an altercation in which he ended up being shot outside a Downtown Indianapolis White Castle pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor battery.

Monday's court hearing, however, provided few details about what the judge actually did in the moments before the late-night shooting that badly wounded him in May.

Clark County Circuit Judge Andrew Adams, 47, received a sentence of 365 days in jail, a credit for two days served. The remaining 363 days of the sentence were suspended, meaning Adams will serve no additional jail time. He took a plea deal that resulted in the dismissal of six other charges, including two felony counts of battery resulting in moderate bodily injury.

Adams showed remorse in court, apologizing to his wife and three children, along with the state judiciary, the State Bar Association and the court.

"This was a regretful situation," he said, "and an incident that will not happen again."

But neither Adams, his attorney Jennifer Lukemeyer, nor the state elaborated on Adams' actions that night. And it's unclear if Adams' plea means that more details about the shooting will eventually be released. Adams and Lukemeyer declined to comment on the case after the hearing.

The shooting

It's also unclear when or if Adams will resume his duties on the bench. A question about the status of his suspension was not immediately answered Monday by an Indiana Supreme Court spokeswoman.

In court, Marion County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Harrison read aloud the charge to which Adams pleaded guilty.

The indictment says that Adams kicked Brandon Kaiser, one of two remaining suspects in the case, on May 1. But it's unclear when exactly that happened during the altercation outside the White Castle on 55 W. South Street. There was also no mention of the other Clark County judge involved, Brad Jacobs, who was also shot during the fight but was not charged.

Some details on what led up to the shooting were revealed by a snippet of surveillance video and a probable cause affidavit filed in the cases against Kaiser and the other suspect, Alfredo Vazquez.

The shooting happened after Adams and Jacobs, who were in town for a judicial conference, were bar-hopping Downtown late April 30 into the morning hours of May 1, according to court documents.

The judges had tried to enter the Red Garter Gentleman's Club, police said, but it was closed. They then went to the nearby White Castle instead.

Adams, Jacobs and a third judge, Crawford County Judge Sabrina Bell, were standing near the building when an SUV parked nearby and two men left the vehicle. The four men engaged in a "physical fight," investigators said.

A struggle ensued, during which one man raised to his knees, pulled a gun from his waistband and shot Adams in the stomach. Nearby, Jacobs and another man were wrestling. The other man held onto Jacobs, police said, when the shooter walked up to Jacobs and shot him in the chest. After Jacobs fell to the ground, one man held him down while the shooter held the gun against Jacobs' chest and shot again.

Then the two men drove away, leaving the judges behind.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police identified the suspected shooter as Kaiser and the other man as Vazquez. The men were arrested after the shooting, but the state declined to file charges at the time. Then, in June, Prosecutor Terry Curry announced charges against Kaiser, Vazquez and Adams after convening two secret grand juries.

Vazquez, 24, is charged with seven counts of low-level felony and misdemeanor offenses, including two counts of Level 6 felony battery.

Kaiser, 41, faces the toughest charges: a total of 14 counts, including eight felony charges — four of which are Level 3 felony aggravated assault.

Lawyer: Adams has been punished enough

In asking for leniency from the judge on Monday, Lukemeyer said the events that transpired that night left Adams with serious physical and mental harm. Adams spent 16 days recovering in the hospital after the shooting, Lukemeyer said. He experienced post-traumatic stress, she said, from watching his friend, Jacobs, get shot.

Not to mention the pain he put his family through, Lukemeyer said.

"I don't think it can be reiterated enough just how horribly he felt," she said.

Lukemeyer asked for a fully suspended sentence, and stressed that her client is not at risk for re-offending, so probation isn't necessary. "He's been sanctioned enough," she said.

Marion County Judge William Nelson agreed. His sentence does not require Adams to serve any jail time or probation. Adams was fined $100, plus court costs.

Nelson said presiding over the case wasn't easy for him. He learned of Adams and Jacobs' injuries, he said, at the judicial conference the judges were attending.

"Little did I know I would be sitting here (judging) you," Nelson said to Adams.

Nelson said his decision likely wouldn't please everyone.

"I'm being scrutinized just as much as you're being scrutinized," Nelson said. But he added: "I pride myself on doing the right thing, no matter who sits in judgement."

Adams remains suspended

Court records show Adams remains suspended from the bench with pay, a sanction taken against him after he was charged in June. A temporary judge started hearing cases in Adams' court in early May as Adams recovered from his gunshot injuries.

It will be up to the Indiana Supreme Court to determine whether Adams is allowed to return to the bench or face any further sanctions.

Adams is the first person charged in the shooting to have his case resolved, court records show. The two other suspects, Kaiser and Vazquez, still have charges pending against them as of Monday. The same plea agreement that Adams took has been offered to Vazquez, according to the Marion County prosecutor's office.

Vazquez's attorney, Gregory Spencer, declined to tell IndyStar if his client plans to accept a plea deal in the case.

"It's encouraging," Spencer said, "that the judge has taken responsibility for his role."

IndyStar reporters Ryan Martin, London Gibson and Vic Ryckaert contributed to this report.

Contact IndyStar reporter Crystal Hill at 317-444-6094 or cnhill@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @crysnhill.