A Grand Forks man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child in Ramsey County now faces a public fornication charge in Grand Forks County.
Kenneth Lee Lavallie, 41, had an initial appearance hearing Friday in Grand Forks District Court, where he faces a Class A misdemeanor of fornication in a public place. The charge stems from a July 25 report in the Grand Forks Town Square, where a witness said Lavallie was engaging in a sexual act with another person.
It appears the other person was not charged in the case.
The Grand Forks charge was pending as Ramsey County prosecuted its gross sexual imposition case against Lavallie. Charging documents alleged Lavallie "engaged in sexual contact" with a 6-year-old girl.
The Class A felony, which carries a maximum punishment of up to 20 years in prison, was downgraded to a Class A misdemeanor of sexual assault in exchange for Lavallie's guilty plea, which was entered Thursday during a change of plea hearing. He was sentenced to 360 days in jail, but that sentence was credited for time served, Ramsey County State's Attorney Kari Agotness said.
