A Faribault County prosecutor left out an important detail when he said a Frost teen pleaded guilty to an assault charge.
On Wednesday, assistant County Attorney LaMar Piper told Tripleanews.com that 19-year-old Wyatt Eugene Tungland pleaded guilty to a felony charge of third-degree assault.
What Piper forgot to mention was that Tungland made an Alford plea during his hearing held before Judge Michael Trushenski in Martin County District Court.
When Tungland’s mother became aware of Piper’s error, she first contacted Tripleanews.com and then their attorney Chris Ritts.
In an e-mail to Tripleanews.com, Ritts did confirm that Tungland had entered an Alford plea.
Under the plea, Tungland maintains he is innocent but admits there may be sufficient evidence with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find him guilty.
Charges of aiding and abetting third-degree assault and furnishing alcohol to persons under the age of 21 were dismissed.
A four-day jury scheduled April 23-26 in Faribault County District Court in Blue Earth has been canceled.
Tungland is the last for four teens who were charged in the assault of former Blue Earth Area (BEA) football teammate to settle his case. The other three defendants also pleaded guilty to various charges after reaching plea deals with prosecutors.
The assault occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 19, 2017, during a house party at the home of a BEA football player in Winnebago.
A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered prior to Tungland’s sentencing that is scheduled to be held on June 11.