A Grand Forks teen accused of assaulting a 12-year-old girl and stealing her bicycle was sentenced to a year in prison and three years of supervised probation Tuesday.
Thomas Allen Lipsh, 18, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and felony theft.
Judge Sonja Clapp of state District Court allowed Lipsh to serve his time at the Grand Forks County jail on work release. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Lipsh was given credit for the time he served from May 18 until June 22. He must report to the jail Nov. 1.
At an Oct. 5 hearing, Clapp rejected a plea deal Lipsh made with the prosecution. The deal called for Lipsh to serve four months in jail and three years of supervised probation.
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At that hearing, prosecutor Nancy Yon said the victim was left shaken by the attack but has recovered. Yon said Lipsh maintained that the incident arose out of a case of mistaken identity. Lipsh's court-appointed attorney, David Ogren, said it was not his client's intent to attack a 12-year-old girl.
Authorities accused Lipsh of assaulting the girl on the 300 block of Belmont Road in Grand Forks in May. The girl, who had injuries to her face and head, was treated at Altru Hospital and released the same day.
Officers recovered the girl's bike and returned it to her. Police said Lipsh and the girl did not know each other.
