Mark Ray Anhorn, 52, Minot, was sentenced to 360 days in jail, all suspended but the 12 days he has already served, and three years of supervised probation on Friday for terrorizing his ex-girlfriend by driving at her with his vehicle three times on Sept. 10. Judge Doug Mattson said he didn’t think the case required more prison time, but did order Anhorn to pay an $8,000 fine as well as court costs. If he complies with probation conditions, the C felony terrorizing charge will be reduced to an A misdemeanor.

Mattson gave Anhorn a deferred imposition of sentence for 30 months on the reckless endangerment charge, meaning that charge will be dismissed if Anhorn complies with probation conditions.

Mattson also ordered Anhorn to complete 40 hours of community service. He suggested that Anhorn tell the supervisor of his love for pets so he might be able to work with animals. Mattson also ordered Anhorn to have no contact with the victim for the duration of his probation.

Mattson also noted that the state Legislature has mandated probation in cases such as these unless there are other circumstances that call for a heftier sentence.

The woman had told police that Anhorn tried to run her over at a southeast Minot address. According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, on the day of the incident, she said she and her current boyfriend had been cleaning out a friend’s garage. She heard music coming from outside and went to see where it was coming from. Anhorn had come by. She told police that he called her names and made an obscene gesture at her. She said Anhorn got back into his vehicle, drove away, then returned and yelled that he was going to kill her. He then backed up, drove through the yard, and tried to hit her with his vehicle. The woman ran between a parked car and the garage to get away from Anhorn’s vehicle. Anhorn then stopped in the road and then drove after her a second time and she again ran between the parked car and the garage. Anhorn then backed up and stopped, speeding off to the end of the block, before he came back a third time and tried to run her over. She yelled to her current boyfriend to get his phone to call police. Her boyfriend gave her the phone and she called 911 and described Anhorn’s vehicle. When Anhorn realized she was on the phone, he left.

A jury convicted Anhorn last month of Class C felony terrorizing and Class C felony reckless endangerment.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim testified that she fears Anhorn and said a friend and relative of Anhorn have tried to contact her on his behalf.

Anhorn’s defense attorney, Tom Slorby, suggested the woman had been exaggerating her level of fear and said there was no record that she had contacted police regarding the alleged violations of a no contact order.

Anhorn told the judge that he regrets frightening the woman and wasting the judge’s time with this case.

“I never thought things would go as far as they did,” said Anhorn.

Anhorn said he wishes he had taken a plea offer but had thought the charges would be proved false. He regrets that he did not know more about the judicial system and what is allowed as evidence at a trial.

Judge Mattson also informed Anhorn that he has a right to appeal the verdict.