A prosecutor says a Grand Forks man has admitted sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl since she was 6.
Matthew Lyons, 36, made an initial appearance Aug. 9 in state district court in Grand Forks on the charge of continuous sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 15, a Class AA felony with a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Jason McCarthy, assistant state's attorney for Grand Forks County, also charged Lyons with a lesser felony of child abuse.
Lyons remains in the Grand Forks County jail under bond of $250,000 cash or surety, scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 16.
According to the probable cause affidavit from police officer Dustin Beseke, the girl came to the police department early this month to report the abuse. During an interview, Lyons admitted to sexually assaulting the girl since 2007.
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According to a search warrant, investigators recovered evidence mentioned by the victim and Lyons.
--Stephen J. Lee
