Grand Forks man charged after sexually abusing teen for several years

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) -A Grand Forks man is facing felony sex crime charges after a 13-year-old girl told police he had been inappropriately touching her for several years.

Court documents say the girl reported to her mother that the man, identified as Jesse Rich, would touch her when they were riding in a car together. The girl’s mother later provided home surveillance video that allegedly shows Rich touching the girl, according to the documents.

After that incident, Rich sent the girl a text message asking if she “liked it,” the documents state.

During an interview with investigators, Rich admitted he had touched the girl “quite a bit” and acknowledged he knew it was wrong because of her age and where he was touching her, according to the statement.

Based on the girl’s disclosure, the video evidence and Rich’s statements, the investigating officer wrote there is probable cause to believe Rich knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the girl.

Rich is charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition – victim under 15.