Mandan Manslaughter Suspect Convicted of Lesser Charge

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A Mandan man on trial for manslaughter in the death of another man after a house party fight a year ago has been convicted of a lesser charge.

Jurors on Thursday found 23-year-old Colten Towry guilty of aggravated assault. The charge carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison -- half of what Towry could have faced had he been convicted of manslaughter.

Towry was accused of punching 30-year-old Derek Oshkeshequoam at the October 2012 party. Oshkeshequoam fell and hit his head on pavement, and died days later at a hospital. Towry testified that he was trying to break up a fight between Oshkeshequoam and another man when the incident happened.

A sentencing date was not immediately set.