GRAND FORKS — A man who randomly kidnapped a Grand Forks woman returned to the courtroom on Friday, Nov. 1. This was after the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled that his sentence was too harsh.

More than a year after his sentencing, 30-year-old Jarrod Adams returned to the Grand Forks County Courthouse for resentencing.

Adams convicted in 2023

Attack in May 2022

. In broad daylight on a Sunday morning, he randomly followed a woman to her fourth-floor apartment opposite Altru Hospital.

He told her he had a gun and that he shouldn’t shout. He ran into an empty apartment where Adams restrained him, but he managed to fight him off. Neighborhood residents heard the commotion and called 911. The jury found him guilty of attempted gross sexual imposition, kidnapping and three other charges.

The judge sentenced Adams to 50 years in prison, but he was sentenced to 20 years; That means he’ll only serve 30 years in prison if he stays out of trouble.

Adams appealed to the North Dakota Supreme Court. The judges upheld the conviction. However, they decided that the 20-year sentence on the kidnapping charge, with a 10-year prison sentence and a 10-year suspension, was too severe, considering the facts supporting the kidnapping charge.

They ruled that the maximum term was only 10 years, so the judges ordered Adams to be re-sentenced. Prosecutors once again asked for the maximum sentence.

Adams’ total sentence was reduced from 50 years to 40 years because the 10 years suspended for the kidnapping conviction was no longer part of the equation, but there was no change that he should receive a 30-year sentence.

Adams shook his head no when asked if he had anything to say in court Friday.

Adams’ probation period was reduced from 20 years to 16 years.

Matt Henson is WDAY’s Emmy-winning reporter/photographer/editor. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the anchor anchor for WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.