Cody Lee Payne, 29, originally charged with Class C felony aggravated assault and accused of punching his girlfriend in the face and fracturing her nose on June 3, pleaded guilty on Feb. 23 to a reduced charge of Class B misdemeaor simple assault – domestic violence.

North Central District Court Judge Richard Hagar sentenced Payne to the 30 days he has already served in the Ward County Jail and to one year of supervised probation, ordered him to complete a class for domestic violence offenders, to obtain a chemical dependency evaluation, and to continue with methadone treatment. Payne must also pay $550 in court costs.

According to court documents, Payne punched his girlfriend in the face, jaw, and temple, broke her nose, and interfered when she tried to make an emergency call.

Payne had also originally been charged with Class C felony interference with a 911 call. The state dismissed that charge under the terms of a plea deal.

Payne, who now lives in Bismarck, had been scheduled to go to trial on the felony charges on March 6.