MOORHEAD – A 17-year-old Moorhead boy being held in the Clay County juvenile detention center is charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl who was in the center with him.
Joseph Jacob Moos was charged Thursday in Clay County District Court with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct on a child under 13, a felony.
According to court documents, Moorhead police were called to the Shelter Care unit of the West Central Regional Juvenile Center on July 17. The Shelter Care coordinator told an officer that a girl had reported receiving sexual advances from Moos.
The coordinator told the officer Moos was in Shelter Care by court order after being charged with first-degree criminal sexual assault on a child less than 12.
The 12-year-old girl reported to officials at the Red River Child Advocacy Center in Fargo that Moos gave her a note telling her she was “hot” for a 12-year-old. He originally claimed he was 15, she told officials, but later admitted he was 17.
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She reported that on July 15, while the girls and boys at Shelter Care were in school, Moos sexually molested her while the students were supposed to be watching a movie.
Moos initially denied touching the girl but then admitted to having contact with her, authorities said. His next court appearance is set for Sept. 8.
