Erickson sentencing reset for Wednesday morning

The sentencing of a Havre man convicted of criminal endangerment in an incident that put a Big Sandy man in intensive care and caused permanent brain injuries has been delayed by what the state district judge called circumstances beyond anyone's control.

Judge Dan Bouche this afternoon reset the sentencing of Kenneth Erickson, born in 1961, to Wednesday at 9 a.m.

A jury in February convicted Erickson of the felony — and acquitted him of a felony charge of aggravated assault — stemming from Erickson punching Gene Johnson in the parking lot of a bar April 23, 2011.

Johnson sustained severe injuries when his head struck the pavement of the parking lot.

Erickson has maintained from the start that he was acting in self-defense.

Johnson also has filed a lawsuit asking the court award him damages from the incident.