Jhalil Kyle Fuquan Means, 27, Minot, is accused of sexually assaulting at gunpoint a woman whom he had picked up as she was walking from Velva to Minot on July 7.

Means is charged in district court in Minot with Class AA felony gross sexual imposition by force, Class A felony kidnapping, Class B felony burglary committed with a firearm, and Class C felony terrorizing with a firearm. There would be minimum mandatory sentences on all of the charges upon conviction. The AA felony carries a maximum sentence of life without parole.

Means made an initial appearance in court on Tuesday before Judge Richard Hagar, who set bond at $250,000 cash or corporate surety. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 24.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Means saw the woman walking along U.S. Highway 52 and asked her if she wanted a ride. The woman accepted and got in his vehicle. As he was driving to Minot, Means told her he was going to stop at someone’s house. He drove off the highway and backed into a driveway alongside a house that was out of view of the highway. Means then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the woman. He grabbed her purse and cell phone. He told her to get into the backseat of the vehicle and forced her to perform oral sex on him. A man was mowing the lawn nearby and Means apparently became nervous and got back into the driver’s seat and drove back onto the highway. He asked the woman where she lived and she told him. He drove her back to her home and followed her into her house, still holding the handgun on her. In the woman’s house, Means sat in a chair, still holding the gun, and ordered the woman to sit in front of her. He then again forced her to perform oral sex on him for nearly an hour. He eventually left but told the woman he would kill her and hurt anyone she told about the assault.

The woman reported the assault to the sheriff’s department. An investigation led to the identification of Means. The woman picked Means out of a photo lineup and also positively identified Means’ car.

In court on Tuesday, Means told the judge that he doesn’t know the woman he gave a ride and he doesn’t understand the kidnapping charge since he took the woman home. He also told the judge there was no real gun in the vehicle. He also said he has no history of violent offenses. Ward County Deputy State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz told the judge he asked for the high bond because of the seriousness of the charges and because Means, who is originally from New Jersey, doesn’t have strong ties to the community. Means told the judge that he is not a flight risk and has two children in Minot.