Lance David Effertz, 37, was sentenced last week to 360 days in jail, with a requirement that he serve 30 days, and two years of supervised probation for strangling his girlfriend during an argument on Sept. 26, 2019, at a southeast Minot residence.

Court records show that Effertz entered an Alford plea, meaning he maintains his innocence but recognizes he could have been found guilty at trial, to Class C felony domestic violence causing serious bodily injury.

Judge Stacy Louser also ordered Effertz to comple a course for domestic violence offenders and to pay $1,100 in court costs. If Effertz successfully completes probation, the offense will be deemed a Class A misdemeanor.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Effertz and the woman had been arguing and Effertz followed her into the bedroom, grabbed her by the neck, pushed her down on the bed and srangled her with both hands. The woman swung her arms at him and possibly scratched him to get him to stop and Effertz strangled her again with both hands.

At one point Effertz went outside and realized that the dead bolt was missing for the door when she told her daughter to lock the door. The woman went outside to ask Effertz where the dead bolt was and he refused to tell her. The woman spray painted the front and side windows of Effertz’s vehicle. At that point, he told her the dead bolt was in the shed.

Police noted that the woman had a red mark in the shape of a hand print on her neck. She was examined by ambulance personnel but was not transported to the hospital after the assault.