FARGO
A 74-year-old West Fargo, N.D., man is accused of molesting three children ranging in ages from 7 to 11, according to charges filed in Cass County District Court.
Ned D. VanDyke made an initial court appearance Thursday on three counts of gross sexual imposition.
According to West Fargo police reports filed with the charges, an 11-year-old girl told investigators VanDyke touched her at least twice, both under and on top of her underwear.
The 11-year-old said VanDyke gave books and jewelry to her and her sister and told her "don't say anything to anybody about the jewelry."
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The alleged victims were acquaintances of VanDyke who would clean out trucks for him at his shop in West Fargo, court records state.
In a separate interview, a 7-year-old girl told police VanDyke had been touching her in private areas for about a year and that she had also seen him touch her sister.
The felony charges filed Wednesday also include a third victim, a child born in 2001, but court records do not state the age of the alleged victim.
A conviction on a Class A felony count of gross sexual imposition carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of supervised probation.
Bail was set Thursday at $10,000 bond or $1,000 cash. As a condition of his release, VanDyke can't contact any children younger than 14 years old, said Reid Brady, an assistant Cass County state's attorney.
VanDyke's next court date is set for Aug. 26.
A phone message left for VanDyke was not returned.
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
