An Austin man who groped a woman in public while intoxicated last September changed his plea Monday in Mower County Court.

Hassan Mabu-Fardina, 30, entered alford pleas to both gross misdemeanor stalking and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct — meaning he maintains that he is innocent but realizes there is enough evidence to convict him. In exchange, one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony, was dismissed.

According to the court complaint, Mabu-Fardina approached a woman at the 300 block of North Main Street, lifted her skirt and touched her legs. He then reportedly tried to grab the woman’s arm and peer down her blouse.

According to the victim’s recollection in the complaint, Mabu-Fardina appeared intoxicated and said “I want to fight. I am going to kill someone tonight.”

An officer later located Mabu-Fardina at the 200 block of Fourth Avenue NE but released him, according to the complaint. The victim was waiting in front of a store for an interview, and both the victim and store owner identified Mabu-Fardina from a photo lineup.

While Mabu-Fardina initially admitted that he was in the area, he said he didn’t encounter any women, according to the complaint. The complaint later states that Mabu-Fardina remembered speaking with a woman in that area, and his description of that woman somewhat matched that of the victim. However, he maintained that he did not touch her, according to the complaint.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15.

Mabu-Fardina was also convicted of fourth-degree assault toward a corrections officer on Jan. 5. According to that court complaint, Mabu-Fardina was arrested on Oct. 1, 2011, after making terroristic threats to a wedding group at the Hormel Historic Home. A further review of Mabu-Fardina’s record shows a conviction for misdemeanor assault on Oct. 10, 2002, as well.