FARGO, ND (trfnews.i234.me) — In Cass County District Court, Fargo resident Princess Leiyipei Gweh, 25, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment. The charges stem from a February 18, 2024, incident at the now-closed Cairo Restaurant and Bar, where Gweh drove her vehicle into a crowd, injuring three individuals.
According to court records, police responded to the establishment, located at 4554 Seventh Ave. E., shortly after 2 a.m. following reports of an injury crash. Prior to the incident, Gweh had been involved in a verbal altercation inside the bar and a physical fight outside. She then entered her vehicle and drove toward a group in the parking lot, striking three people. One victim sustained life-threatening injuries; all three survived.
The plea agreement resulted in the reduction of an attempted murder charge and the dismissal of several other charges. During sentencing, Gweh acknowledged her actions, attributing them to her decision to consume alcohol and drive. She expressed remorse to the victims and her family. Judge Connie Cleveland, presiding over the case, described Gweh’s actions as “completely unacceptable” but noted that her apology was a mitigating factor. The judge emphasized that while the sentence is lengthy, the impact on the victims and those who had to evade Gweh’s vehicle is enduring.
Gweh’s attorney, Jeff Bredahl, described the plea agreement as “reasonable and just,” highlighting that it had been under consideration for several months. Prosecutor Brianna Kraft informed the court that the victims prioritized incarceration over the specific charges to which Gweh pleaded guilty. Gweh, who has no prior criminal history and has young children, is considered unlikely to reoffend. The reduction of the attempted murder charge to aggravated assault is intended to provide her with a better opportunity for rehabilitation upon release.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me