The Ohio man who was accused of threatening to kill St. Louis telemarketers has pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of misdemeanor harassment.

Charles Papenfus, of Fostoria, Ohio, was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to take an anger-management course.

In July 2009, Papenfus became an Internet folk hero after the Post-Dispatch reported he was being held in the St. Louis Workhouse on suspicion of making a terrorist threat, a felony.

He was accused of telling a sales representative for downtown-based TXEN Partners that he would burn down the building and kill the employees and their families.

The company, which does business as Protection Direct, sells service contracts. Consumer groups and state regulators have accused the company of trying to trick consumers into buying aftermarket coverage.

On Aug. 31, St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer sentenced Papenfus to one year in jail, but suspended execution of that sentence. Papenfus will not need to serve any jail time if he successfully completes probation.