Bemidji, Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Cass Lake man faces a felony sex charge. The report came from a Bemidji residential facility.
Ronald Joseph Staples Jr., 40, of Cass Lake, is charged with felony fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The case stems from an incident reported on Oct. 1, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, an adult woman reported unwanted sexual contact. The complaint says it happened inside a residential care setting in Bemidji.
The report says staff learned of the allegation and contacted law enforcement. The Bemidji Police Department investigated, according to court records.
Investigators collected statements and reviewed building video, the complaint states. Court papers say surveillance footage captured the interaction tied to the charge.
What the complaint alleges
The complaint says the video shows Staples near the woman in a shared area. The report says the contact was not consented to.
The woman later spoke with investigators, the complaint says. Court papers state she described what happened and when it occurred.
The complaint says the video supported parts of her account. Investigators also documented the woman’s statement, according to the filing.
Charge details
Staples is charged under Minnesota’s fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct statute. The law generally covers nonconsensual sexual contact.
The statute cited in the case is Minnesota Statutes 609.3451.
What happens next
A charging document is not a conviction. Staples is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Future hearings and filings may appear through Minnesota Court Records Online. Some case details may be sealed or redacted.
Where to learn more or get help
Public case searches are offered by the Minnesota Judicial Branch. The City of Bemidji also posts contact details for police at its official police page.
If you or someone you know needs help, support is available. You can contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline.
Minnesota support is also available through Minnesota Day One Services.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.