The St. Paul man who blinded an innocent bystander in one eye at a New Year's Eve celebration was sentenced to one year in the county workhouse and 20 years supervised release.

Kinseth C. Sorlien, 34, could face prison time if he violates the terms of his supervised release. Ramsey County District Court Judge George Stephenson sentenced him Tuesday to 8 1/2 years in prison, but stayed the time in lieu of the workhouse and supervised release.

Jurors convicted Sorlien in August of first-degree assault for poking out Kent Gunter's left eye about 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Governors Food and Drink on St. Paul's East Side.

Gunter, 52, of Maplewood, had to have his eye removed and now wears a prosthetic.

Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Lawrence Schultz said at trial that Sorlien wanted to leave the bar, but was delayed by his mother, who was chatting with Gunter. Sorlien smacked the back of Gunter's head, and later, jabbed him in the eye when Gunter admonished him for the smack.

Sorlien's attorney, Eric Nelson, told jurors that Sorlien accidentally injured Gunter's eye as he reached over to catch his drunk, falling mother.

If found eligible, Sorlien could serve his workhouse time through work release or home detention and electronic monitoring. He will also have to pay an undetermined amount of restitution, abstain from alcohol and drugs, undergo random testing and complete a mental health evaluation.

CHAO XIONG