Cass County, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has issued a statement following the sentencing of former deputy Darin Viken, who pleaded guilty to misconduct involving participants in the county’s 24/7 Sobriety Program.
Viken, a 19-year veteran of the department, was charged with six counts of disorderly conduct after several women in the program accused him of making inappropriate sexual comments and actions while he served as the program’s coordinator. The program has operated under the Cass County Sheriff’s Office since 2009, with Viken appointed coordinator in 2015.
On July 21, 2025, Viken entered an Alford plea to all charges. His sentencing includes:
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Five days of electronic home monitoring
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50 hours of community service
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360 days unsupervised probation
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$275 in fees
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Surrender of his North Dakota Peace Officer License
Viken had previously been placed on administrative leave and was terminated in July 2024.
Sheriff Jesse Jahner expressed disappointment with the outcome, calling the sentence “extremely lenient” and lacking in accountability.
“Lenient sentences like this can cause distrust in the criminal justice system by our citizens and the law enforcement profession,” Jahner said. “There were several victims in this case who I feel did not receive the justice they deserved.”
Jahner also thanked the victims for their courage in coming forward, crediting them with preventing further harm.