ND man accused in assault with dumbbell

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A North Dakota man sent to prison 20 years

ago for assaulting a Minnesota teacher in her home with a tire iron

is now accused of hitting his landlord's 82-year-old wife in the

head with a dumbbell.

Forty-one-year-old Joel Johansen of Fargo is charged with

aggravated assault in the alleged attack on Carol Wambheim that

authorities say fractured her skull. Johansen did not immediately

respond to a telephone message seeking comment left for him at the

Cass County jail.

Police Sgt. Mark Lykken said he did not have information on a

possible motive.

The Forum newspaper reports that Johansen's criminal history

includes burglary and assault convictions for attacking a Moorhead,

Minn., high school gymnastics teacher in January 1990. He was

sentenced to more than five years in prison.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Tags: joel johansen, crime, assault, fargo