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Defendant pleads to felonies involving a minor

A Minot woman has entered a change of plea to guilty to charges related to sexually explicit communications with a minor.

Amber Halena Boothe, 50, Minot, entered her guilty pleas in North Central District Court on Friday before Judge Douglas Mattson as a part of an open plea agreement with the Ward County State’s Attorney’s office. A jury trial schedule for next week was canceled in light of the change of plea.

Boothe pleaded guilty to one count of use of a minor in a sexual performance, a Class A felony, and one count of possession of certain materials prohibited, a Class C felony. Two additional counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor, a Class B felony, and luring minors by computer, a Class C felony, were dismissed in accordance with the plea agreement.

Boothe was charged in Jan. 2024 after law enforcement investigated a report made by the parent of the minor victim regarding sexually explicit communications between her and the victim.

Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson said a forensic extraction of the juvenile’s phone included messages from Boothe, asking him for pictures of his genitalia. Larson noted that after receiving the images Boothe said she was joking, but investigators later found the images were still on Boothe’s phone. The victim told investigators that Boothe had told him to delete the messages.

Larson recommended a sentence of 10 years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with five years suspended for the first count, to be followed by a period of supervised probation. The recommendation also required Boothe to register as a sex offender, have no contact with the victim and pay $1,025 in court costs and fees. Larson recommended a sentence of five years for the second count.

As the plea was entered on an open basis, Mattson is not bound to follow the sentencing recommendation. Class A felonies in North Dakota carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Mattson ordered a presentence investigation, and Larson requested it include a psychosexual evaluation in addition to the sex offender evaluation required from the guilty plea to the Class A felony.

Boothe was allowed to remain out of custody on a $20,000 bond so she would be able to continue receiving medical treatment, but Mattson added restrictions barring her from being able to leave Ward County. Boothe’s sentencing has been scheduled for May 12.

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