Sex Charges Dropped Against Former North Dakota Game Director

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former North Dakota Game and Fish Director Terry Steinwand will no longer face gross sexual imposition charges after the court dismissed the case last week. Steinwand had been arrested for allegedly touching a child inappropriately, which could have resulted in a life sentence if convicted. Two previous plea deal attempts were rejected by a judge, and prosecutors say they are still determining if the case will be tried again.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complexities of prosecuting high-profile sex crime allegations, especially when plea deals are rejected by the court. The dismissal raises questions about the strength of the evidence and the potential challenges the state faced in securing a conviction.

The details

Terry Steinwand, the former director of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, was arrested and charged with gross sexual imposition for allegedly touching a child inappropriately. If convicted, he could have faced life in prison. However, the court has now dismissed the charges against Steinwand. Prosecutors say they are still determining whether to try the case again.

• The charges against Steinwand were dismissed last week.
• Two previous attempts to settle the case with a plea agreement were rejected by a Morton County judge last month.

What’s next

Prosecutors will decide whether to retry the case against Steinwand.