An east Alabama man has pleaded guilty in the 2021 death of a beloved barrel racer who died after he was “sucker punched” while out with friends in downtown Anniston.

Corey Duran, now 22, pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter in the death of 23-year-old Colten Farley. The guilty plea was entered Monday in a Calhoun County courtroom, according to court records made public Tuesday.

Farley died March 25, 2021, five days after police said he was punched while with friends on the city’s popular Noble Street in Anniston’s Arts and Entertainment District.

Farley was a barrel racer, trainer, Quarter Horse and Appaloosa enthusiast, breeder, and ambassador.

Calhoun County Judge Timothy Burgess handed down a 10-year suspended sentence for Duran, with five years to serve on probation. Duran is also prohibited from consuming alcohol for at least six months.

The assault happened about 12:30 a.m. that Sunday.

According to police and a civil lawsuit in the case, the underaged Duran “had developed a reputation for drinking and fighting” in the entertainment district.

Farley was walking with two friends toward his vehicle which was parked outside the Dark Horse Saloon on Noble Street. The trio was preparing to leave to go home.

While temporarily standing on the sidewalk, Farley was knocked to the ground by a family member of Duran and landed on his buttocks with his hands to his sides bracing his fall.

The family member recognized Farley, documents state, and they were about to peacefully part on good terms when Duran “charged” out of the Dark Horse and “sucker-punched” Farley in the jaw. The blow knocked Farley unconscious.

“He stiffened and fell backwards, and the back of his cracked against the pavement,’’ according to the civil lawsuit, which is still ongoing.

The incident was caught on surveillance cameras from the downtown area.

Farley did regain consciousness at the scene and was treated by paramedics. He refused to be taken to the hospital, against medical advice, police said.

Later that morning, Farley was found unresponsive and could not be awakened.

He was airlifted to UAB Hospital where he underwent surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain.

He died days later.

“He was a young guy, a member of our barrel racing community, a sweet kind soul who didn’t deserve what happened,’’ according to a Facebook post by Western Dove in Texas.

There were multiple social media posts from friends and family claiming Farley was attacked in a hate crime targeting his sexuality, but police said they found no indication Farley’s death was the result of a hate crime.

“There were words exchanged. All of the people involved are loosely associated with each other, they know each other,’’ Police Chief Nick Bowles said at the time. “There was absolutely no bias. There were no sexual epithets or anything like that exchanged.”