A Sawyer man has entered a change of plea in North Central District Court on Thursday to guilty to sexually abusing a child.

Lucas Tanner Richardson, 38, Sawyer, entered his change of plea before Judge Gary Lee Thursday in Minot. Richardson was arrested and charged on Dec. 19, 2024, following an investigation by the Ward County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the victim’s mother called Minot Central Dispatch reporting a possible sex offense of a child. An examination of the victim was conducted at a Minot hospital and found evidence corroborating the abuse described by the victim.

The victim told her mother and the forensic interviewer that Richardson abused her beginning in 2021 until Dec. 12, 2024.

A date for Richardson’s sentencing has not yet been set based on court records.