David Joseph Abernathy, 49, of Bismarck. Photo courtesy of St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department
A Bismarck man remains in custody at the St. Francois County Jail on a $500,000 bond following his September 16, 2024, arrest and subsequent filing of felony charges for sex crimes against a victim less than twelve years of age. The felony charges against David Joseph Abernathy, 49, of Bismarck, include four counts of sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy, two counts of enticement or attempted enticement, and two counts of child molestation in the second degree.
A June 6 trial scheduling date has been set before Judge Brice Sechrest in St. Francois County.
When a December 24, 2024, grand jury indictment was issued against him, the number of felony charges had increased to a total of nine: three counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy, one count of statutory rape or attempted statutory rape, two counts of enticement or attempted enticement of a child, two counts of child molestation in the second degree, and one count of tampering or attempt to tamper with a victim in a felony prosecution.
Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a staff writer for the Daily Journal and Farmington Press. She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.
