Fargo man involved in a standoff is sentenced

Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) - The court emphasizes medication over jail time for Leonard Ritter, the man who threatened officers in a standoff last summer. Ritter was sentenced to 5 years in prison, to serve 180 days for being a felon in possession with firearms.

He was barred from possessing firearms after a similar standoff with police in 1997. Other charges were dropped because he's deemed mentally unstable without medication for bi-polar disorder.

Ritter's also on probation for 5 years and court mandated to stay on medication his attorney says has made him a changed man. Ritter will be released from jail in two weeks and is moving in with family in Fargo.

He still may not possess weapons. He told the judge he didn't know he wasn't supposed to have several hunting guns. He says his former probation officer told him his charges from the 1997 incident had been reduced to misdemeanors.

Ritter asked they be turned over to his sons, who he says also enjoy hunting. That's up to his probation officer. If Ritter violates his probation he may be sent back to the state hospital without a hearing.

Tags: kelsey soby, crime, fargo, news, ritter