Dawson M. Rouse, Sexual Exploitation of Minors, North Dakota 2020
Bismarck Man Charged with 40 Felony Crimes for Sexual Exploitation of Minors
Bismarck, ND - US Attorney Drew H. Wrigley announced that Dawson M. Rouse of Bismarck, ND, has been indicted on 13 additional federal charges. The indictment comes after a superseding indictment was unsealed in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota on September 8, 2020.
Rouse has been charged with 13 additional counts of sexual exploitation of minors, coercion or enticement of minors, and transfer of obscene material to minors under the age of 16. This brings the total number of felony counts against Rouse to 40.
The indictment alleges that Rouse used the internet to arrange meetings with minors for the purposes of sexual misconduct, sent obscene images to 15 minors under the age of 16, and received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
According to the indictment, the minor female victims described similar conduct by Rouse, in that he would friend them on Snapchat and begin conversations with them, eventually turning the conversation to sex. Rouse allegedly harassed the minor victims until they sent him nude photographs or videos of themselves, then harassed them to meet him so they could have sex.
Several of the victims sent nude pictures and videos of themselves to Rouse, and six of the victims met with him at his residence and engaged in sexual acts with Rouse.
“The defendant stands accused of 40 felony crimes of various ghastly sexual intrusions into the lives of 18 minors,” said US Attorney Drew Wrigley, “and this remains an active and engaged criminal investigation.”
An indictment is an accusation and notice of charges, and Rouse is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Bismarck Police Department and Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme.
Rouse was ordered to remain in detention pending trial on this matter.
Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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