A Sawyer man is being held at the Ward County Jail on a $1 million bond after being charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, a Class AA felony.

Lucas Tanner Richardson, 38, Sawyer, made his initial appearance in the case on Dec. 20 in North Central District Court, in Minot, for which he faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Richardson is charged with engaging in a combination of three or more sexual acts or sexual contacts with the victim over a three-year period.

According to court documents, the charge stems from a report on Dec. 14 to the Ward County Sheriff’s Office of a possible sex offense from the mother of the alleged victim. The victim was taken to a Minot hospital for a sex assault examination, which found injuries and evidence of abuse.

The victim told her mother Richardson had abused her on Dec. 12, and that she was speaking out because he had broken a promise never to do it again. A forensic interview was later conducted at the Northern Plains Child Advocacy Center on Dec. 19, where the victim described multiple incidences of abuse.

The victim’s mother also provided a video of a phone call with Richardson, where he allegedly admitted the accusation was true, but denied doing anything to other children in the home.

Richardson is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 23, 2025.