Aggravated assault suspect gets suspended sentence in Dickinson

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A Dickinson man received a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty Tuesday in Southwest District Court in Dickinson to aggravated assault and to the violation of a protection order in a Nov. 3 incident in Dickinson.

Robert Frederick Pilot, 20, was sentenced to 18 months confinement, all suspended for a period of three years on the Class C felony aggravated assault charge. He will be on supervised probation with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and will also owe $525 in court fees.

In addition, Frederick was sentenced to one year confinement, all suspended for a period of two years for the Class A misdemeanor violation of a protection order charge. He will also be required to serve two years of probation for the Class A misdemeanor charge, which is the longest probation term allowed by law for the charge.

If Pilot would violate the terms of his probation, he could be sentenced to the maximum punishment, which includes five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the aggravated assault charge.

All of the sentences will run concurrently, Judge Zane Anderson said.

Pilot was also initially charged with a Class B felony burglary charge, but Stark County Assistant State’s Attorney Jim Hope explained in court that the charge was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

“I suspect that we’re dealing with a young man who has some issues. He will be 21 in May and I think probation and parole can deal with him,” Hope told Anderson, who asked him why dropping the burglary charge was warranted in this case.

According to the criminal complaint, Pilot entered the apartment of his female victim at night, even though he had previously been served with a protection order in favor of the victim, which Pilot said in court that he was aware of and knew he would be violating if he entered the victim’s residence.

After he was inside and the victim had returned home, Pilot began to choke the victim and told her, “you’re done” and “you’re going to sleep,” according to the criminal complaint.

Pilot admitted in court that the incident between him and the victim in the case had gotten out of hand.

“We got into an argument and things got out of hand,” Pilot said.

Tags: robert frederick pilot, aggravated assault, news