A local man charged with multiple felonies for allegedly sneaking a juvenile onto Minot Air Force Base made his initial appearance in North Central District Court on Tuesday, June 9.

Jarred Mack, 23, appeared over ITV before District Judge Stacy Louser at the Ward County Courthouse in two separate cases. Ward County assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Nelson informed the court he intends to file a motion to join the two cases, as they both involve the same victim/witnesses and derive from the same investigation.

According to court records, Mack has been charged with promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor, a Class A felony; promoting obscenity to minors, luring minors by computer, corruption of a minor, surreptitious intrusion-installing device-minor victim, all Class C felonies; providing false information to law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.

Nelson reviewed the mandatory minimum sentences Mack faces should he be convicted, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation along with requirements to register as a sex offender for the Class A felony. Nelson noted some of the mandatory minimums were in play due to Mack allegedly taking a “substantial step” beyond simply communicating with the minor victim.

According to the affidavits of probable cause, the investigation into Mack began following an interview of the victim at the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center in February. The victim said she met Mack on a social media app, and about three weeks prior he snuck her onto Minot Air Force Base in the trunk area of a vehicle hiding under a blanket.

The victim reported spending a few days around base with Mack, during which they engaged in sexual intercourse. She reported telling Mack she wasn’t 18 and that he instructed her to say she left her pass in the dorm if she was caught on base.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, investigators reviewed Snapchat messages between Mack and the victim found on the victim’s phone. Mack’s username was provided by an officer with the Minot AFB Office of Special Investigations, who was aware of the investigation, which resulted in a search warrant unearthing additional messages and explicit photos of Mack and the victim.

Mack was interviewed by law enforcement in March and provided conflicting statements regarding his relationship with the victim, even maintaining the victim was 18 years old before informing detectives he was aware of the victim’s age.

According to a second affidavit of probable cause, additional videos were located on the victim’s device which the victim didn’t know had been recorded. Investigators determined Mack was the individual operating the phone when the recordings were made.

Nelson recommended a variety of bond conditions, ranging from restrictions from accessing the internet, from being around minors without approved supervision, to have no contact with the victim, and a cash or corporate surety bond of $1 million. In support of his requested bond amount, Nelson noted similar methods had been used to surreptitiously access the air base by convicted murderer Heather Hoffman when she murdered Alex Eckhert in 2022.

Public defender Jeffery Holt was present over IVT, along with Mack, and advocated for a far lower bond amount of $5,000 due to Mack’s inability to possibly pay such a high amount. Holt proposed Mack would be under the supervision of his commanding officer on base, but otherwise accepted all other conditions requested by the state.

There was some brief discussion surrounding the question of whether the military was planning to charge Mack under its jurisdiction as well, but it was determined that double jeopardy wasn’t in play as the state and the military are separate sovereigns.

Louser said while she agreed with Holt about the state’s recommended bond being too high, she still had to take into account the safety of the public. Louser set Mack’s bond at $250,000 cash or corporate surety.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, at 11 a.m. at the Ward County Courthouse.