A Bismarck man accused of hitting another man in the head with a hammer, then running over him with a pickup has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and two other felony charges.

Travis Ryberg, 19, pleaded guilty Tuesday to Class Afelony attempted murder, Class Cfelony aggravated assault and Class Cfelony leaving the scene of an injury accident.

A Class B misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension was dismissed by prosecutors.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Cynthia Feland said Bismarck police were called to the 300 block of East Wachter Avenue at 2:08 a.m. Aug. 11, 2007, for an injury accident. Witnesses on the scene told officers Ryberg had been involved in an altercation with T.J. Bauer, who was injured and being tended to by Metro Ambulance staff, Feland said.

She said the witnesses reported Ryberg retrieved a hammer from his pickup and struck Bauer in the head at least twice, though witnesses varied on the number of strikes with the hammer. Ryberg was pulled away from Bauer and the hammer was taken from his hand, Feland said.

Ryberg retreated to his pickup and drove toward the group of people outside the house, Feland said. She said the group scattered, with Bauer ending up near the garage. Ryberg drove the pickup at Bauer, struck him and dragged him under the pickup for about 30 feet, she said.

"At no point did he stop after he struck Mr. Bauer," Feland said.

Bauer did not come dislodged from the pickup until Ryberg hit a light pole, she said. Bauer suffered multiple facial fractures, which required surgery, along with scrapes, cuts and bruises on his body, she said.

Feland said evidence on the scene, including tire tracks and debris, backed up witness statements. Ryberg's defense attorney, Jodi Colling, said whether the hammer came from Ryberg's pickup or had been brought to the party by a different group that had been involved in a separate dispute was not clear. Feland said after the hearing that where the hammer came from was not an important part of the case.

South Central District Judge David Reich ordered a presentence investigation be conducted along with chemical dependency and psychological evaluations. Ryberg will be sentenced at a later date and could face up to 20 years in prison for attempted murder and five years on each of the two other counts. He has been held in the Burleigh County Detention Center on $50,000 cash bond since last August.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)