GRAFTON, N.D. – A Grafton man who faced 17 charges was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday for sexually assaulting and taking photos and video of two minor victims.
Cesar John Salinas, 43, was charged in Walsh County District Court last July with six counts of promoting an obscene performance by a minor, all Class B felonies, five counts of sexual assault, five counts of child neglect or abuse, all Class C felonies, and one count of surreptitious intrusion, a Class A misdemeanor.
Salinas put a cellphone in one of the girl's bedrooms on March 25, 2015, to film her without her knowledge, according to court documents. He also inappropriately touched one of the two girls and took photos and video of both girls when they were naked on multiple occasions, according to the documents.
Through a plea agreement filed March 1, Salinas' charges were reduced. The court dismissed 10 of the charges Monday, including all five counts of child neglect or abuse.
He pleaded guilty Monday to surreptitious intrusion, two counts of sexual assault and four counts of promoting an obscene performance by a minor.
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He was sentenced to one year in prison for surreptitious intrusion, five years for each of the sexual assault charges and eight years for each of the promoting an obscene performance by a minor charges. He will serve these sentences concurrently with credit for 247 days served.
Salinas must first serve four years of his sentence before being considered for probation. He also was ordered to serve five years of supervised probation as part of his sentencing.
