Dickey County man pleads not guilty to sex charges against him

OAKES, N.D. (Valley News Live) - 50-year-old Hans Gruner has pleaded not guilty to two Felony charges against him, that involve having sex with a minor.

Court records say in May of 2021, Dickey County Human Services contacted the Oakes Police Department regarding the potential abuse a 17-year-old girl told a nurse practitioner in Ellendale, ND. The girl said she had an ongoing sexual relationship with her boss, Hans Gruner of Oakes, ND.

Through further investigation, the girl told officers that Gruner would ask to see her breasts while at work and would make other sexual comments towards her. The girl said the comments soon escalated to Gruner asking for sex, and that she estimated it happening about seven times. After this interview with police, the girl was taken into protective custody.

Gruner has pleaded not guilty to one Felony charge of Sexual imposition, another Felony charge of Corruption of a minor and one Misdemeanor charge of contributing to the deprivation or delinquency of a minor.