Barry Mervyn Lindeman, 41, Minot, was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday of Class AA sexual abuse of a girl who was as young as 10 at the time of the incident in Ward County. Court records show that Judge Doug Mattson ordered a pre-sentence investigation and ordered Lindeman to be held at the jail. Lindeman could face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced at a date yet to be determined.

Lindeman had gone to authorities and confessed to his crime in December of 2019 and has been held at the jail since that time. He admitted to abusing the girl on multiple occasions. The girl testified about Lindeman’s long-term abuse of her at the trial on Tuesday. She maintained her composure while facing Lindeman across the courtroom and under what was sometimes a tough cross examination by the defense.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Lindeman confessed to police in two different locations and also showed police text messages he had sent to the girl, admitting that he had abused her. Lindeman confessed that he had sexually abused the girl at a location elsewhere in the state as well.