A state legislator is recovering in the hospital after he was brutally attacked in Carmel.

His attacker now faces attempted murder charges.

Representative Ed Delaney, who's also an attorney, was attacked while meeting with a prospective client.

Delany was beaten, and police say the suspect, 38 year old Augustus Mendenhall, also tried firing a handgun.

He's in the Hamilton County jail.

Delaney represented former Terre Haute Mayor Kevin Burke in his Hatch Act lawsuit following the 2007 mayoral election.

Delaney was elected to the state legislature last year.