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Dwayne Gerard Sr., Karlsruhe, charged in Ward and McHenry Counties with sexual offenses

Dwayne Warren Gerard Sr., 61, Karlsruhe, is charged in district court in Minot with two Class AA felony counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 15, Class A felony use of a minor in a sexual performance, Class A felony, promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor, Class C felony possession of child pornography, Class C felony endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult, Class B felony delivery of marijuana, and Class A misdemeanor unlawful delivery of alcohol to persons under the age of 21.

He is charged in district court in McHenry County with one count of Class AA felony gross sexual imposition.

No further information about the charges was immediately available as the charges in the Ward County case were filed under seal on Oct. 15 and the case in McHenry County was filed under seal on Oct. 20.

According to online court records, the offenses in Ward County date back to December 2019 and in McHenry County to July.

Gerard made an initial appearance on the Ward County charges on Thursday via interactive television from the Ward County Jail before Judge Richard Hagar. A male relative of the alleged child victims, who testified in the courtroom before Judge Hagar, asked the judge to set the bond at the maximum allowed and, addressing Gerard’s image on the television screen, told Gerard that the bond was for Gerard’s own safety and Gerard should not want to be let out on bond. Hagar told the relative of the alleged victims not to make threats.

Ward County Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Nelson asked for bond to be set at $1 million because of the seriousness of the offense. Hagar said he would order Gerard held without bond. Nelson then told the judge that the state constituiton requires that a bond be set. Hagar said it would be “specious” to set a bond so high that the defendant has no ability to actually pay it and get out of jail. Hagar then said he would set bond at $100,000 cash or $250,000 corporate surety. Gerard said he intends to ask for a public defender. A preliminary hearing in the Ward County case is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2021.

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