Bemidji: Bryce Jones Faces Sexual Contact Charge
BEMIDJI, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — Bryce Michael Jones faces a gross misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct charge in Beltrami County.
Jones, 18, is charged in court file 04-CR-26-1978.
The charge follows an alleged incident at a juvenile detention facility in Bemidji.
The complaint alleges nonconsensual sexual contact involving another resident.
Incident Reported at Juvenile Center
Police responded to the Northwest Juvenile Detention Center on Aug. 18, 2026.
Staff reported an alleged sexual contact incident between two residents.
The complaint says staff showed police security footage from the previous evening.
Investigators reported seeing Jones walking behind a juvenile resident in a hallway.
The footage allegedly showed Jones making unwanted sexual contact over the resident’s clothing.
The juvenile later told investigators that Jones had made her uncomfortable before the hallway incident.
She also reported unwanted contact during a Bible study class earlier that evening.
The complaint says she moved away and gave a clear signal rejecting the contact.
A second resident also reported witnessing unwanted contact during the class.
No police officer names are included in this report.
Jones Allegedly Admitted Hallway Contact
Investigators later spoke with Jones after advising him of his rights.
The complaint says Jones denied some of the earlier alleged contact.
However, prosecutors allege he admitted making contact as the residents left the classroom.
Jones was then arrested and transported to the Beltrami County Jail.
Gross Misdemeanor Charge Filed
Prosecutors charged Jones under Minnesota Statute 609.3451, subdivision 1a(1).
The law covers fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving nonconsensual sexual contact.
The charge is classified as a gross misdemeanor in the complaint.
A conviction can carry up to 364 days in jail.
It can also carry a fine of up to $3,000.
Those are maximum penalties and do not represent a sentence against Jones.
Case Remains Pending
The criminal complaint contains allegations that have not been proven in court.
Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Current jail information is available through the Beltrami County inmate locator.
Public court records are available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
Identifying information about the juvenile complainant has been omitted.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
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