A Stanley man has pleaded not guilty to to felony charges of gross sexual imposition and sexual assault against a minor victim after a preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Paul Christopher Valez, 46, Stanley, entered his not guilty pleas in North Central District Court in Minot for both offenses, gross sexual imposition-sexual contact-victim under 15, a Class A felony; sexual assault-victim 15-18, a Class C felony. Valdez also pleaded not guilty to one count of tampering with witnesses-influence testimony, a Class C felony.

The charges against Valdez stem from a report from the victim during a forensic interview at the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center in Stanley on Feb. 21.

According to court documents, Valdez initiated contact through a third party with a witness in the case after he was arrested while in custody at the Mountrail County Correctional Center. A review of Valdez’s call log and text messages revealed Valdez sent multiple messages to the third party motivating them to make contact with the witness and secure a signature on the written statement to get the charges against him dropped. Valdez also messaged a household member of the witness offering $50 for their cooperation in signing the letter.

Valdez is scheduled to appear for a pretrial conference on Sept. 4.