Dickinson ND (Dickinson Press)  The former LaMoure police chief accused of continuous sexual abuse of a child, with charges spreading across four counties in southwest North Dakota, pleaded not guilty to all charges during a joint preliminary hearing in Dickinson on Monday afternoon.

The Dickinson Press reports,  52 year old James G. Watson, of LaMoure, was originally charged with:

  • Stark County: One count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a Class AA felony.
  • Golden Valley County: One count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a Class AA felony.
  • Hettinger County: Three counts of gross sexual imposition, two of these counts were Class AA felonies and the other was a Class A felony.
  • Billings County: Two counts of gross sexual imposition-sexual act by force, both Class AA felonies and one count of gross sexual imposition, a Class A felony.

Southwest District Judge Rhonda Ehlis dismissed one Class AA felony and one Class A felony in the Hettinger County case, as she believed there was not enough probable cause presented by the state to prove that the victim was “forced” to perform the acts. In Billings County, Ehlis dismissed both Class AA felonies, again citing lack of probable cause.

Watson pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Ehlis also indicated that each case will have its own separate trial in its respective county, dates for those trials have not been set.

State’s attorneys in each county were present including: Stark County state’s attorney Tom Henning, Golden Valley state’s attorney Christina Wenko, Hettinger County state’s attorney Amy Pikovsky and Billings County state’s attorney Jay Brovold.

North Dakota Bureau of Investigations special agent Timothy Helmer painted a disturbing picture for the court, as he described interviews with the victim. Helmer said the victim told him the abuse began when she was in first grade and her family lived in a different state.