BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Donnie Lee, a Bismarck man arrested last year for a string of offenses, will not face trial after entering an Alford plea Thursday in Burleigh County Court.
Lee was previously arrested after authorities say he stole a car, caused a hit-and-run crash, and resisted arrest when officers attempted to remove him from the vehicle. Police also discovered stolen property in the car he was driving at the time of his arrest.
Now serving time in the North Dakota State Penitentiary, Lee pleaded guilty to eight charges, including:
Theft
Assault
Drug possession
The judge sentenced him to six years in prison, with an additional five years suspended.
Additional Charges
Lee also pleaded guilty in a separate case involving domestic violence and violation of a protection order, further compounding his legal troubles.
In addition, he faces a felony charge in Ward County as an accomplice to burglary, where he is accused of participating in the crime alongside two other individuals.
The Alford plea allows Lee to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution likely has enough evidence to secure a conviction.
This plea agreement spares Lee from trial and consolidates the charges into a single sentencing structure.
