A man has admitted to robbing and tying up an elderly Mandan man.

Steven Floyd Carlson, 48, pleaded guilty Monday at the Morton County Courthouse to Class Bfelony robbery, and Class C felony charges of aggravated assault, felonious restraint and reckless endangerment.

South Central District Judge David Reich accepted Carlson's guilty pleas and ordered a presentence investigation be conducted along with chemical dependency and psychological evaluations.

Carlson admitted to entering the apartment of William H. Bentley, 80, on Feb. 12, hitting Bentley over the head, tying him up and stealing his wallet.

"I hit him and he went down,"Carlson told Reich on Monday. "Ipunched him twice in the head and once in the neck."

A neighbor noticed Bentley had not been at lunch Feb. 12 or 13 and had his lights and television on late at night, which was unusual. The neighbor alerted the housing authority at Liberty Heights, an apartment complex for retired people at 1500 Third Ave. N.W., and a maintenance man entered the apartment at around 3 p.m. Feb. 13.

Bentley's hands and feet were bound, and he was lying on the floor of his apartment. Police believe he had been bound for 28 hours. Bentley was taken to a hospital for a head injury, dehydration and injuries to his arms and legs. He was released from the hospital Feb. 16.

Police used witness testimony to pin Carlson as a suspect. He was charged Feb. 17, and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day.

Police searched for Carlson in the area after the warrant was issued but were unable to find him. Carlson was arrested Feb. 21 while walking along a road in Jackson County, Mo.

Morton County Assistant State's Attorney Brian Grosinger said DNA found on a coffee cup in Bentley's apartment was matched to Carlson's DNA in an out-of-state database, and Carlson's fingerprint was found on a milk carton in Bentley's refrigerator.

Carlson told Reich he had gone off medication and had been drinking prior to his attack on Bentley. He said he has no prior violent convictions on his criminal history.

Grosinger said he had told Carlson's appointed defense attorney, Steven Balaban, that the case could proceed to sentencing Monday. However, upon hearing Carlson's claims to being off medication and drinking, Grosinger requested a presentence investigation and chemical dependency evaluation be conducted prior to sentencing.

Balaban requested the psychological evaluation be conducted.

Carlson has been held in the Morton County Correctional Center on a $200,000 cash bond since Feb. 28. Carlson could face up to 25 years in prison and fines of up to $25,000.

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