Cass Lake Man Charged in Beltrami County Sex Case
Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Cass Lake man is facing multiple felony charges after a criminal complaint was filed in Beltrami County District Court.
Howard Maxwell Hardy Jr., 65, of Cass Lake, is charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under age 13, according to court records.
The charges are listed as felony offenses under Minnesota Statute 609.343.1(a). Each count carries a possible maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both.
Charges Filed in Beltrami County Court
The complaint alleges the offenses occurred between March 2014 and March 2017 in Beltrami County.
According to the court document, the case began after a parent reported concerns in September 2024. The complaint states the alleged victim later provided a statement to investigators.
The court filing identifies Hardy as a relative of the alleged victim. The allegations involve incidents that investigators say happened at a residence on Porcupine Road in Beltrami County.
The complaint describes multiple alleged incidents that investigators say occurred when the victim was a child. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Hardy is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigation Leads to Charges
The complaint states investigators later contacted Hardy about the allegations.
According to the filing, Hardy was informed that he had been implicated in a criminal sexual conduct investigation.
The document states Hardy asked questions about the investigation and said he might need an attorney before making a statement.
The complaint says Hardy did not provide a recorded statement during that contact.
The case is filed in the Minnesota District Court, Ninth Judicial District, Beltrami County.
Court Case Status
The charges against Hardy are currently allegations contained in a criminal complaint.
Future court hearings will determine how the case proceeds through the legal system.
TRF News will continue to follow updates as more court information becomes available.
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I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.