The juror who derailed a sexual assault trial in March by telling jurors the defendant was a convicted child molester agreed yesterday to reimburse the court nearly $1,200 for his misconduct.

Paul Christiansen of Danbury revealed Timothy Townsend's prior conviction during the second day of deliberations on new child sexual assault charges, according to court records. He said afterward that he had no regrets because he believed jurors need to know about Townsend's past.

The revelation forced a mistrial, and now the Merrimack County Attorney's Office has to retry Townsend and again put the 9-year-old alleged victim on the stand.

In the months after he was charged with a misdemeanor contempt of court charge, Christiansen argued the state's courts had no authority over him and refused to participate in hearings related to his case.

Yesterday, Christiansen gave up the fight. He pleaded guilty to a violation, reduced from the misdemeanor, and agreed to pay the court $1,200 to reimburse it for the money it paid jurors for the two days they deliberated in the Townsend case.