Former Cass County deputy pleads guilty to assaulting jail inmate

Andrew Robinson will serve probation and community service for 2025 incident.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A former Cass County correctional deputy in North Dakota has pleaded guilty to simple assault for an incident involving a jail inmate last summer. Andrew Robinson changed his plea on February 17 and was issued a deferred imposition of sentence, meaning the conviction could be dismissed if he completes one year of unsupervised probation and 40 hours of community service.

Why it matters

This case highlights issues of accountability and oversight within the criminal justice system, as well as the need for proper training and disciplinary measures for law enforcement officers who abuse their authority. The independent investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation was an important step in ensuring an unbiased review of the allegations.

The details

Robinson was placed on administrative leave the day after the July 31, 2025 incident at the Cass County Jail was reported. Following the completion of both the criminal investigation and an internal review, Robinson was terminated from the Cass County Sheriff's Office in August 2025.

  • On July 31, 2025, Robinson allegedly assaulted an inmate at the Cass County Jail.
  • On February 17, 2026, Robinson changed his plea to guilty.
  • Robinson must complete one year of unsupervised probation and 40 hours of community service by August 31, 2026.
  • Robinson's probation period runs through February 12, 2027.

The players

Andrew Robinson

A former correctional deputy with the Cass County Sheriff's Office in North Dakota who pleaded guilty to simple assault of a jail inmate.

Jesse Jahner

The sheriff of Cass County, North Dakota who requested an independent investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation into the allegations against Robinson.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for misconduct and the need for robust oversight and disciplinary measures within the criminal justice system to ensure public trust and safety.