Convicted sex offender misses hearing
By Dave Olson, The Forum
Published Tuesday, May 17, 2005
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A convicted sex offender failed to make a court appearance Monday on charges he molested a boy in Detroit Lakes, Minn., last summer.
Becker County District Court Judge Michael Jesse then issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Joseph Edward Duncan III, 42, and ordered that his $15,000 cash bail be forfeited.
Authorities were already looking for Duncan for failing to abide by conditions of release set at an initial appearance in Becker County District Court April 5.
Duncan, whose last known address was 810 7th St. N., Fargo, is accused in court papers of approaching a 6-year-old boy and his 8-yearold friend on July 3 at a school playground in Detroit Lakes.
Duncan pulled down the shorts of the younger boy and touched him. He tried the same thing with the other boy but wasn't able to, according to the court documents.
Joseph E.Duncan III, a convicted sex offender, served 14 years in prison for raping a 14-year-old boy
Joseph E. Duncan III
Duncan was the subject of a community notification meeting after he moved to Fargo in 2000 and began attending North Dakota State University, where he was a senior this year.
Before moving to Fargo, Duncan served 14 years in prison for raping a 14-year-old boy in Pierce County, Wash.
Duncan was 16 at the time of the rape.
Following the April 5 hearing in Becker County, Duncan was released after posting bond of $15,000 cash and agreeing to stay in touch with a probation agent.
Duncan checked in with the agent the week of April 11 but failed to do so the following week, authorities said.
Investigators have determined Duncan rented a red 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee in St. Paul April 15 and failed to return it.
A key tag belonging to the Jeep was recovered in a national park in Wyoming, but authorities have had no other leads, Assistant Becker County Attorney Mike Fritz said.
Fritz said he is contemplating charging Duncan with failure to appear but by law must wait at least two days.
Anyone with information about Duncan's whereabouts is asked to call the Becker County Sheriff's Department at (218) 847-2661.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=92324§ion=News
Interesting.