(Valley News Live) – A volunteer at a Devils Lake daycare has been charged with multiple felonies, accused of sexually abusing several young children, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
Braxton Strande, whose date of birth is listed in court records as 2009, faces nine felony counts, including continuous sexual abuse of a child, multiple counts of gross sexual imposition, child abuse and tampering with a witness, according to a criminal information filed in Ramsey County District Court.
As Valley News Live first reported in July, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office began investigating an allegation involving Little Goslings Daycare in May.
According to the charges, most of the alleged abuse occurred at Little Goslings Daycare, though additional counts describe incidents involving other children over a separate time period. Prosecutors allege inappropriate sexual contact with several young children. One charge also alleges Strande caused physical injury to a child, and another accuses him of threatening a child to keep him from reporting the abuse to adults.
A director within the daycare told Valley News Live over the phone that Strande was never employed by the daycare and was never assigned to work directly with children. She said he was classified as a volunteer under North Dakota licensing rules because of his age, and that he has a family member who works at the facility, which is why he was present at all. She also added that Strande underwent the same background check required of anyone in the facility, was always supervised by daycare staff, and was never left alone with children or responsible for their care.
She said the daycare has cooperated with investigators from the start and has provided evidence to law enforcement.
Ramsey County State’s Attorney Daniel Howell said an order in the case has been signed and the court is moving forward with the charges. Howell said the case will proceed by summons, with a summons date to be set.
In July, when the investigation was first announced, authorities said details were limited because both alleged victims and the person under investigation were minors. Howell said at the time that the county would pursue prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law” for any allegations found to constitute crimes.
If you or someone you know has experienced child sexual abuse, help is available through Childhelp at 1-800-422-4453 or the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
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