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Man accused of strangling crying toddler

A 25-year-old Minot man is accused of coming home drunk Wednesday and trying to strangle his girlfriend’s crying toddler son after the child asked for a glass of water.

Casey Robert Roed then allegedly struck his girlfriend when she came into the child’s room. She saw him strangling the boy, jumped on Roed’s back and started hitting him, according to the probable cause affidavit in the case.

Roed is charged with child abuse, a Class C felony, and simple assault-domestic violence, a Class B misdemeanor. He made an initial appearance in district court in Minot on Thursday, where Judge Doug Mattson set bond at $10,000, with a requirement that Roed post 10 percent.

The Ward County State’s Attorney’s Office, citing a conflict of interest, appointed Burleigh County attorney Marina Spahr as a special prosecutor. Mattson said he found this move odd, considering that the State’s Attorney’s Office had not stepped aside the last time when someone associated with the county was involved in a case. Mattson did approve the appointment of Spahr.

The Class B felony carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. A Class B misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail.

Roed has a history of alcohol-related offenses.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Dec. 7.

– Andrea Johnson

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