A 33-year-old Kenmare man was sentenced to time served of 126 days served and 360 days unsupervised probation last week for assaulting his cell mate in a fight over Ramen noodles.

Jesse Levi Jones pleaded guilty on June 8 to Class A misdemeanor assault. He had originally been charged with Class C felony aggravated assault and accused of breaking the other man’s jaw.

According to court documents, Jones and David Lee Pieper Jr. got into a dispute on Feb. 2. Pieper wrote out an account for law enforcement. Pieper claimed he was missing seven ramen noodle packages and a bowl Jones became aggressive with him when he asked Jones where his ramen noodles were. Jail security footage showed Jones punching Pieper. The state noted that the charge was amended “in the interest of justice” because they had difficulty establishing which man was the aggressor and which man was the victim.

Jones was also ordered to pay $2,086.82 in restitution and $125 in court costs.

– Andrea Johnson