Kim Fundingsland/MDN Chad Legare enters the courtroom in Towner Tuesday. Legare pleaded guilty to attempted murder of Father Robert Wapinski.

TOWNER – With the man he is accused of leaving for dead seated a few feet away, Chad Legare, Alexandria, Minnesota, entered an Alford plea of guilty to a charge of attempted murder.

Northeast District Judge Donovan Foughty asked for a pre-sentence investigation, meaning Legare will be sentenced at a later date not yet set by the court. The state asked that Legare receive a 13-year sentence with the stipulation that he serve at least 10 years behind bars followed by five years probation upon release.

In addition to facing a Class A felony charge of attempted murder, which carried the possibility of 20 years imprisonment, Legare was charged with burglary, a Class B felony, and aggravated assault, Class C felony. The latter two charges, which carry maximum penalties of 10 and 5 years in prison, were dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea.

An Alford plea can be entered when a defendant acknowledges there is enough evidence for a jury to find a person guilty. William Hartl, Legare’s attorney, told the court that the Alford plea was being entered because his client “did not intend murder.”

During Tuesday’s appearance Judge Foughty asked Legare if he understood that entering an Alford plea, which admits the state can prove their case, was the same as a guilty plea, Legare responded softly, “Yes, your honor.”

The case against Legare had its beginnings on January 30 of this year. Investigators say Legare entered Father Robert Wapinski’s living quarters at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Anamoose sometime before 8 a.m., disabled a light and waited in the dark for Wapinski to arrive. When Wapenski did so Legare attacked him violently, including wrapping speaker wire around Wapenski’s neck and tightening it until Wapenski became unconscious. Wapenski was discovered later that morning and was hospitalized. He has since recovered from his injuries.

Legare was initially questioned in Minot in connection with the case, but denied any involvement and was not detained. He was in Minot following the assault for the purpose of visiting his girlfriend. Later investigation, which included the viewing of surveillance footage from a business located between Anamoose and Minot, placed Legare in proximity to the crime during the suspected time period.

In the days prior to the attack Legare had voiced a complaint to Minot Police that his girlfriend had been raped by Wapinski, an accusation she later denied. During a phone conversation with the Minot Daily News following the attack and prior to his arrest, Legare said he had “never been to Anamoose.” When asked if he was the attacker, Legare responded, “Your guess is as good as mine. That’s for other people to decide.”

Legare has been held at the Heart of America Correctional Center in Rugby since the time of his arrest at his Alexandria home on February 5. He will be given credit for time already served against whatever sentence is eventually imposed. Anamoose is located in McHenry County on U.S. Highway 52 approximately 60 miles southeast of Minot.