The accused was convicted in three cases | News, sports, work

Joel Valadez

A Minot man who faced multiple charges in three separate cases, including corruption of a minor, domestic violence, aggravated assault and duty after striking an unattended vehicle, has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Joel Alejandro Valadez, 25, Minot, appeared in North Central District Court on Tuesday for sentencing, changing pleas in all three cases.

In the first case, charged in July 2022, Valadez pleaded guilty to one count of being on duty after striking an unattended vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor, while another Class A misdemeanor charge was dismissed.

Judge Douglas Mattson sentenced Valadez in the first case to nine months in the Ward County Jail with credit for nine months served. Valadez was ordered to pay $125 in fines and court fees and $8,876.50 in victim restitution.

Valadez pleaded guilty to a Class C felony count of adult victim of aggravated assault in a second case that stemmed from an incident at the Ward County Detention Center in October 2023. According to a probable cause affidavit, Valadez attacked another inmate in his cell until walking in the background during a video call. The victim suffered a laceration to his forehead and a possible broken hip, requiring further surgery and X-rays to assess the extent of his injuries.

Judge Todd Cresap sentenced Valadez to five years in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, three years initially with credit for 380 days already served. Valadez was assessed $525 in fines and court fees and was ordered to serve three years of supervised probation upon his release.

Valadez pleaded guilty to two counts in the third case, one count of corruption of a minor victim over the age of 15, a defendant 22 years of age or older, and a count of domestic violence and serious bodily injury, both Class C felonies. Eleven additional counts were dismissed in April, ranging from gross sexual imposition, use of sexual force, a Class AA felony, a felony count of child restraint, a Class C felony, and multiple counts of domestic violence.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Valadez was arrested in March 2023 after a report of domestic violence by a minor victim. Subsequent statements made by the victim alleging further sexual and physical assault led to additional charges.

The minor said that in January 2023, Valadez held her in the apartment against her will for three days and during that period he assaulted her and also locked her phone in a safe to prevent her from communicating with her mother.

A jury trial in the case was scheduled for Dec. 16 before Valadez entered a plea change. Mattson sentenced Valadez to five years in the Department of Corrections for both charges, with the first three years to be served with credit for 608 days already served. The sentence is to be served concurrently with the sentence in the aggravated assault case.

Valadez was ordered to complete five years of supervised probation upon release and is prohibited from having any contact with the victim or coming within 200 feet of his residence or workplace. Valadez will be required to register as a sex offender.

Valadez was also assessed $1,100 in fines and court fees.