### Details of the Case Terry Steinwand, 71, served as the director of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2023. He was arrested on Friday, September 5, 2025, by the Mandan Police Department in Morton County, North Dakota, on a single felony charge of gross sexual imposition involving sexual contact with a victim under the age of 15. He is currently being held at the Burleigh Morton County Detention Center, with bond set at $50,000. As of September 8, 2025, no formal criminal complaint has been filed in court, which means specific allegations or evidence details have not been publicly released by authorities. News reports indicate the incident involves alleged sexual misconduct with a child, but no additional information about the circumstances, location, timing, or identity of the victim has been disclosed, likely due to the ongoing investigation and the sensitive nature of the case involving a minor. ### What Did He Do Exactly? Publicly available information does not provide specifics on the alleged actions, as the case is in its early stages and details are limited to the charge itself. The accusation centers on "sexual contact" with a victim under 15, which under North Dakota law implies non-consensual or unlawful touching of intimate areas (see below for definition). Further details would typically emerge through a filed criminal complaint, court filings, or trial proceedings, but none have been made public yet. ### What is Gross Sexual Imposition (GSI) According to ND Law? Gross sexual imposition is defined in North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) § 12.1-20-03. It covers offenses involving either a "sexual act" (penetration) or "sexual contact" (touching), under certain aggravating circumstances. The charge against Steinwand specifically references "sexual contact" with a victim under 15, which falls under subsection 2(a): > 2. A person who engages in sexual contact with another, or who causes another to engage in sexual contact, is guilty of an offense if: > a. The victim is less than fifteen years old; > b. That person compels the victim to submit by force or by threat of imminent death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping, to be inflicted on any human being; or > c. That person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the victim is unaware that sexual contact is being committed on the victim. Key related definitions from NDCC Chapter 12.1-20 (general provisions): - **Sexual contact**: Any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of the person for the purpose of arousing or satisfying sexual or aggressive desires. - **Sexual act**: Includes sexual contact accompanied by emission of semen or sexual intrusion/ejection. Penalties under § 12.1-20-03: - The offense is generally a Class A felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $20,000. - It escalates to a Class AA felony (up to life imprisonment without parole, minimum 20 years if involving force under subsection 1(a)) if: - Serious bodily injury occurs. - Force or threats are used (subsection 1(a) for sexual acts). - The victim is under 15 and the offender is at least 22 years old (applies to sexual acts under subsection 1(d); for sexual contact, it remains Class A unless other factors apply). - The victim dies from injuries sustained. Given Steinwand's age (71) and the victim's age (under 15), if proven, this could potentially elevate to Class AA depending on additional facts, but the charge as stated aligns with the Class A framework for sexual contact. This statute emphasizes protection of minors, with no defense based on the victim's apparent consent if under 15.
