Nathaniel Sanchez

The jury trial of a Makoti man charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child began Monday morning in North Central District Court in Minot.

Nathaniel Lee Sanchez, 37, Makoti was arrested and charged on Dec. 30, 2022, after authorities investigated allegations made by a juvenile.

The alleged victim, interviewed at the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center in Minot, told investigators the abuse began when she was 8 years old and continued for another four years. According to court records, the child indicated she was threatened by Sanchez not to tell anyone about the abuse but finally felt comfortable disclosing it after talking to a friend and eventually her mother, who reported the incident to Three Affiliated Tribes Police in New Town.

Sanchez has been held at the Ward County Jail while awaiting trial, with a bond of $1 million cash or corporate surety ordered by District Judge Stacey Louser.

Jury selection began Monday. Sanchez’s trial has been scheduled a Priority #1 and should conclude on Friday.