Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Escape from North Dakota Halfway House

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A man serving time on a racketeering charge has pleaded guilty to walking away from a Fargo halfway house.

Kieron Kier is charged in federal court with escape from custody. Authorities say he was signed out from Centre Inc. on a weekend pass in November and never returned.

Kier was arrested on Jan. 13 in White Earth, Minnesota. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Kier had been convicted for conspiracy to participate in racketeering activities and sentenced in July 2013 to more than three years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 18.

A federal public defender was not available for comment.