Former Grand Forks State Senator Accused of Violating Pretrial Release

(North Dakota Monitor photo)

(Mary Steurer – North Dakota Monitor) -A former state senator convicted of a child sex crime has again been found in violation of the conditions of his release as he awaits sentencing.

Ray Holmberg, once a powerful state lawmaker, pleaded guilty in August to repeatedly traveling from North Dakota to Prague, Czech Republic, for the purposes of engaging in commercial sex with adolescents under age 18.

Holmberg was released from custody on Oct. 30, 2023, with certain stipulations — including location monitoring, internet restrictions, no drugs or alcohol and no contact with victims or witnesses. The terms were updated this spring to bar Holmberg from using electronic devices without permission, according to court records.

“Since the date of the last status report filed on August 2, 2023, the defendant has continued to access the internet for reasons not approved by pretrial services,” a pretrial services officer says in the document.

The document notes that Holmberg accessed social media sites like Facebook and Twitter seven times between Aug. 13 and Aug. 17, and once on Sept. 22, without authorization.

On Aug. 7, Holmberg also “frequented” a home in Fargo in violation of his location monitoring requirements.

“The defendant has been given verbal reprimands and has been reminded of his conditions of release on numerous occasions,” the document says.

Court documents indicate Holmberg has violated the terms of his release several other times this year. An August court filing describes additional instances when he used the internet for unauthorized purposes, as well as occasions when he frequented an adult novelty store. In May, he tested positive for alcohol, which is not allowed under the release conditions.

A sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Holmberg, 80, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release.

After Holmberg pleaded guilty, the North Dakota Republican Party called for Holmberg to be jailed while awaiting sentencing. The charge Holmberg pleaded guilty to would typically lead to being held in custody, but prosecutors at the hearing in August said there should be an exception in this case, largely due to Holmberg’s health issues and medical appointments.