A Lewiston woman charged with hitting her elderly mother with a hatchet has been committed to Maine's Riverview Psychiatric Center for treatment.

Fifty-five-year-old Nancy Jean pleaded guilty last week to aggravated assault in a plea agreement in which an attempted murder charge was dismissed.

She was accused of attacking 72-year-old Rita Jean in a dispute over money a year ago. After being hit in the head, the victim wrestled the hatchet and drove herself to a hospital. Police arrived to find Nancy Jean eating a hot fudge sundae.

A judge sentenced Nancy Jean to eight years in prison, but suspended all of the sentence except the 272 days she already had spent in jail. She'll remain at Riverview until counselors determine that she can be released.