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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Behchoko man was given a year in jail after pleading guilty midway through his trail for sexual assault.

Walter Desjarlais, 34, entered a guilty plea Wednesday after the victim testified that he had sexually assaulted her at a Yellowknife residence on March 5. A witness testified to confirm the offence.

The victim and some friends, including Desjarlais, had been at the bar that morning. They made a stop at the liquor store so they could continue drinking at the woman's home. The woman testified that she went to her bedroom and woke up after a few hours to find Desjarlais kneeling in front of her. He had removed his pants and had also removed her clothing from the waist down.

She said she woke up when another friend at the house opened the door and started shouting. Desjarlais then left the residence.

Before sentencing was handed down, defence lawyer Hugh Latimer described the sexual assault as "on the lower end of the scale."

He said Desjarlais does not have a lengthy criminal record, with two charges in 2007 and 2005 for assault.

"This guilty plea comes at the 11th hour. Actually it's more like 11:45," said Judge Robert Gorin.

Desjarlais mumbled an apology to the court. Gorin said based on the evidence the incident "did not progress to the point that intercourse was forced ... only because Mr. Desjarlais was interrupted."

In addition to the 12 months of jail, Desjarlais was ordered to submit his DNA to comply with the Sex Offender Registration Information Act.