KENNEBEC-A man charged in May with holding a woman underwater was convicted last week of simple assault and a drug charge and sentenced to four years probation.
Jeremy Packard, 36, of Fort Thompson, was arrested in an Oacoma laundromat on May 31 when a woman told police that, after an argument, he had held her in the Missouri River until she went limp.
According to court documents, when he was taken to jail, Packard had a preliminary breath test of 0.207. Police found drug paraphernalia, including residue, in Packard's backpack.
Packard was originally charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance, simple assault and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He pleaded not guilty to all charges on June 28.
On Aug. 9, Packard pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in schedule I or II and simple assault. In addition to probation, he was additionally ordered to pay $4,515 in court costs and court-appointed attorney's fees on Oct. 25. He was given a suspended five-year prison sentence with credit for 147 days served.
