A promiÂnent University of MinÂneÂsoÂta proÂfesÂsor and arcÂtic exÂplorÂer pleaded guilty Thursday to felony domestic assault by strangulation for violently attacking his fiancée in a drunken rage last year.
Aaron H. DoerÂing, 47, a tenÂured proÂfesÂsor, also pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court to a misdemeanor charge of violating a domestic abuse no-contact order. Under the terms of his plea agreement, the charge will be downgraded to a gross misdemeanor at sentencing in June. He is expected to serve 180 days in the county workhouse and complete two years of probation.
He must also complete treatment for alcohol addiction and mental health issues.
Doering's attorney, Christa Groshek, described the plea deal as a generous offer by the state that will prevent him from having a felony conviction on his record.
"This is not a standard sentence, and it was an advantageous offer for Dr. Doering that allows him and the complainant to move forward," she said.
Doering was arrested Dec. 26 following a report of an assault in progress at the northeast Minneapolis residence he shared with his fiancée. She told police that during the course of an argument, Doering grabbed her by the hair and dragged her through the aÂpartÂment. He later beat and choked her unÂtil she was unÂaÂble to breathe and felt as if she'd lose conÂsciousÂness, court reÂcords show.
In court Thursday, Doering admitted that he'd been drinking heavily that night and said they began fighting with over whether he was being unfaithful. He denied remembering many of the details because he was intoxicated, but contented that his partner's account was true.
A uÂniÂverÂsiÂty spokesÂwomÂan said ThursÂday eveÂning that DoerÂing's emÂployÂment staÂtus with the school has not changed. He has remained on leave since shortly after his arrest, but school officials declined to say whether he was still being paid.
Three complaints against Doering were filed with the university in recent years. All were closed without disciplinary action, said spokeswoman Caitlin Hurley.
Doering's ex-wife, Amy Matthews, and a former fiancée, Nina Orezzoli, told KSTP in February that they experienced similar instances of physical abuse at his hands.
DoerÂing, of Woodbury, is a naÂtionÂal speakÂer on cliÂmate change and a CaÂnaÂdiÂan arcÂtic exÂplorÂer whose exÂpeÂdiÂtions landÂed him at the foreÂfront of adÂvenÂture learnÂing. As diÂrecÂtor of the Learning Technologies MeÂdiÂa Lab at the U, DoerÂing uses techÂnolÂoÂgy like drones to give stuÂdents a glimpse into isÂsues of susÂtainÂaÂbilÂiÂty, culÂture and the enÂviÂronÂment.
Liz Sawyer • 612-673-4648