State v. Pickens

Tufte, Justice.

[¶ 1] Clyde Pickens appeals a criminal judgment entered after a jury found him guilty of gross sexual imposition. Pickens argues the district court's errors in responding to two requests from the jury prejudiced his substantial rights and denied him a fair trial. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

I

[¶ 2] Pickens moved to western North Dakota in 2011 with D.R. and her children, M.R. and C.R. After arriving, Pickens and D.R. began CTC Cleaning Services and performed construction cleanup work. Pickens lived with D.R. and helped care for her children.

[¶ 3] D.R. testified about…