Peace Garden News

The Williams County Sheriff’s Office has announced that a Maryland man faces seven AA-felony counts of gross sexual imposition involving a teenage victim, with alleged incidents dating back to mid-2024. This information was disclosed in a press bulletin.

According to charging documents summarized in local coverage, investigators allege that Edras Fuentes Perez repeatedly forced or coerced a teenage victim into sexual acts on multiple occasions starting around June or July 2024. He is charged with seven AA-felony counts of gross sexual imposition, four related to forced sexual acts and three involving a victim under 15. Perez remains in custody on a $1 million bond, with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer noted in online court records. A preliminary hearing and arraignment are scheduled for November 26, 2025, with a jury trial set for March 2, 2026. The AA-felony level charges could result in a life sentence if he is convicted.

North Dakota law categorizes gross sexual imposition as one of its most serious sex offenses. In cases involving a child under 15 or the use of force, it can be charged as a Class AA felony, punishable by up to life imprisonment without parole. Statutory summaries and practitioner guidance emphasize that when force, coercion, or very young victims are involved, courts face mandatory minimums and limited discretion. This reflects a legislative choice to incapacitate the most dangerous offenders and send a clear deterrent signal in child-focused sex crime cases.

A 2025 analysis of sex-offense data ranked North Dakota fourth nationally, estimating roughly 139 sex offenses per 100,000 residents—a notable figure given the state’s relatively small population and rural geography. National child-protection research estimates that about one in ten children will experience some form of sexual abuse before age 18. This underscores why many communities in conservative states support strong sentencing frameworks, active sex-offender monitoring, and close cooperation between local sheriffs, prosecutors, and federal partners such as ICE in cases involving non-citizen defendants.

The Williams County Sheriff’s Office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for Williams County, North Dakota. Based at the Williams County Law Enforcement Center in Williston and led by elected Sheriff Verlan J. Kvande, it provides patrols, investigations, detention services, and emergency response across the county. The office is committed to "serving and protecting" residents and visitors while handling serious crimes through specialized teams supporting search-and-rescue operations in an area shaped by agriculture and energy development.