PINEVILLE, Mo. (AP) - One of three people charged in the assault of a Somali woman at a southwest Missouri ballpark has been sentenced to probation.
The Joplin Globe (https://bit.ly/2o83sNW ) reports that 29-year-old Ashli Helmuth was sentenced after pleading guilty Tuesday in McDonald County to a reduced charge. She initially was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action but admitted to the misdemeanor count of assault as part of a plea deal.
The Somali woman has testified that several people blocked the road and forced her to stop in October as she left the Noel park after going there for a work break. She said the two women hurled racial slurs and hit her. Helmuth was accused of throwing the first punch.
The woman also said a man fired a handgun several times.
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Information from: The Joplin (Mo.) Globe, https://www.joplinglobe.com
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