JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A former Jamestown priest will avoid jail if he completes 50 hours of community service after pleading guilty to sexual assault. The plea deal for Neil Pfeifer included a charge of sexual exploitation by a therapist being dismissed.

A trial on the charges was supposed to start on Thursday in Jamestown.

Pfeifer was sentenced to 360 days in jail but it was all suspended except for 10 days and credit for one day served. The terms of the plea mean he will have to serve nine days in jail if community service isn’t finished by September 15.

Pfeifer was facing similar charges in Logan County, but that case was dismissed in April.

In a statement from the Diocese of Fargo, the church says “the Diocese continues to investigate this matter. Pfeifer’s removal from priestly ministry continues to be in effect. The Diocese also continues to pursue this matter under Church processes as defined by canon law.”

He had served as a priest in Jamestown, Buchanan and Windsor.