Cass County, N.D. (trfnews.i234.me) — A former Cass County sheriff’s deputy will not serve jail time after an inmate slap.
Sentence and court terms
Judge Stephannie Stiel ordered Andrew Wleh Robinson, 51, to complete 40 hours of community service.
The case involves one misdemeanor count of simple assault.
Robinson also must finish 360 days of unsupervised probation.
If he meets the terms, the charge will be dismissed.
The court will also seal the record, court files say.
Robinson no longer lives in the Fargo-Moorhead area, his attorney told the court.
What prosecutors said happened
Prosecutors said the assault happened on July 31, 2025, inside the Cass County Jail.
They said Robinson slapped inmate Justin Hodge with an open hand.
Court records said Hodge had a minor injury.
He was treated at a local hospital.
Prosecutors said they could not reach Hodge for input on the plea deal.
Inmate account and case review
Hodge said the incident began during a cell release.
He said a nearby door did not open.
He said he tried to get staff attention.
He said staff told him to return to his cell.
Hodge said he argued that he had done nothing wrong.
He said Robinson then slapped him.
Hodge later said doctors treated him for a concussion.
Agency response and prosecution change
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office placed Robinson on leave after the report.
The agency later fired him, officials said.
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation reviewed the case.
Records say it was referred for criminal charges.
Cass County prosecutors stepped aside due to a conflict issue.
Prosecutors from Grand Forks County handled the case instead, filings say.
Plea deal details
Robinson reached a plea deal.
He waived a court appearance on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
His lawyer, Nichole Bredahl, entered the guilty plea for him.
Bredahl told the court that Hodge used racial insults before the slap.
Robinson is Black, and Hodge is white.
Bredahl said Robinson was sorry for what happened.
Stiel said the comments did not excuse the assault.
She said officers are trained to stay calm.
For more background, see WDAY News, InForum, and North Dakota Courts.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.