Billy O’Brien Walsh, 27, Berthold, pleaded guilty on Thursday in district court in Minot to groping the breasts of a teenaged girl, through her clothing, on April 19 at the Ward County Administration Building in Minot. The crime took place before a Ward County deputy.

The offense is a Class C felony with a mandatory minimum five years of supervised probation and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Prosecutor Christopher Nelson told Judge Richard Hagar that the state will also recommend that Walsh be sentenced to five years in prison and serve two years.

Walsh did not have an attorney and was representing himself. He told the judge he wanted to plead guilty and take the plea deal offered by the state. Hagar ordered a pre-sentence evaluation and scheduled sentencing for September.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Walsh was stumbling around and could barely stand before the incident. At one point, he lay down on the floor in the middle of the lobby. He was also speaking incoherently and had been slurring his words. After the incident, he was placed under arrest for detox and taken to jail.

Authorities spoke to the girl and her father. The girl wanted to press charges against Walsh.