Austin Dwight Frederick, 21, is accused of touching the private parts of a 4-year-old boy on Oct. 22, 2017.

He is charged with Class A felony gross sexual imposition in district court in Minot. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a requirement for registration as a sex offender upon conviction.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, the boy and his 2-year-old brother were briefly left in the care of three men, including Frederick, while a woman ran an errand. When she returned, one of the men informed her that the boy had claimed Frederick had touched him. The woman asked the boy where Frederick touched him and the boy pointed to this belly, arm, leg, face, stomach and shoulder. She asked the boy if he was also touched on his private parts and he said yes. A forensic interview was done of the boy at the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center on Nov. 1, 2017, and the boy identified his private area on a body parts drawing and told the interviewer that Frederick had touched him there. Frederick was 20 at the time.

Catholic Charities of North Dakota is Frederick’s legal guardian. A representative told Judge Stacy Louser in court on Wednesday that Catholic Charities will be making application for a court appointed lawyer for Frederick.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 11.

Louser set bond at $100,000 cash or corporate surety for Frederick. Ward County Assistant State’s Attorney William O’Driscoll said this bond was appropriate because of the nature of the alleged offense and the age of the alleged victim. Louser also ordered Frederick to have no contact with the alleged victim or his mother.