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Ray Holmberg

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Ray Holmberg
A monochrome portrait photo of a man with short grey hair, wearing a suit coat and tie; he is looking and facing the center of the camera with a happy expression.
Holmberg in 2021
Member of the North Dakota Senate
from the 17th district
In office
December 1, 1976 – June 1, 2022
Preceded byN/A[1]
Succeeded byJonathan Sickler
Personal details
Born (1944-12-10) December 10, 1944 (age 79)
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Kerry Louise Hackett
​
​
(m. 1973)​
Children2
Signature
Criminal information
Years active2002-2021
Criminal statusPled guilty. Awaiting sentencing.
Conviction(s)Child sex tourism
Criminal penaltyTo be determined

Raymon Everett Holmberg (born December 10, 1944) is an American former educator, school counselor, and Republican North Dakota state senator. Once tied for the longest-serving state legislator in the United States, Holmberg resigned from the Senate in 2022 after 45.5 years upon investigation into his child sex tourism and alleged receipt of child sexual abuse material.

Personal life

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Raymon Everett Holmberg[2] was born on December 10, 1944.[3] He attended Climax High School in Climax, Minnesota, and was one of 26 senior-class students in the 1960–1961 academic year.[4] He married Kerry Louise Hackett (born 1950 or 1951), of Grand Forks, North Dakota, on April 27, 1973,[5] and as of 2013, had two children and five grandchildren.[6] In December 2020, he contracted COVID-19 and was treated with a convalescent plasma injection.[3][1]

Career

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Education

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From 1967 to 2002, Holmberg worked for Grand Forks Public Schools as a teacher, "child find coordinator", and school counselor. On November 2, 2023, a North Dakota Department of Public Instruction panel voted unanimously to suspend his lifetime teaching license, with a plan "to revoke it immediately if he pleads guilty to or is convicted of any charge" in his 2023 criminal case.[7]

He was also previously a chairman of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.[6]

Politics

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Holmberg was first elected as a Republican to the North Dakota Senate in 1976, and took office that December 1, representing District 17 ("Grand Forks south of 32nd Avenue South, neighborhoods along the Red River, and large areas west and south of the city").[1] He was to have been one of North Dakota's three electors for certifying the 2020 United States presidential election, but was replaced after contracting COVID-19.[3]

For many years in office, Holmberg chaired both the senate's appropriations committee, which wrote budgets, and legislative management panel, which handled the legislature’s business between biennial sessions.[8] While on a 2021 legislative committee to redistrict the state, Holmberg rejected a map drawing a Native American-majority district, saying it was to avoid gerrymandering; the approved redistricting map was ruled a violation of the Voting Rights Act in 2023 by Judge Peter D. Welte in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota.[9]

After the 2021 retirement of Fred Risser of the Wisconsin Senate, Holmberg was tied with Nikki G. Setzler of the South Carolina Senate for longest-serving state legislator in the United States.[1] In 2021, Holmberg was the Grand Forks Herald's person of the year. In 2022, he was chairman of the Senate's Appropriations, Rules, and Legislative Management committees while also serving on the interim Budget Section; The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead called Holmberg "one of the most powerful and popular lawmakers in the legislature".[10] From 2013 through mid-2022, Holmberg spent more state money on travel than any other legislator (US$125,810).[11]

In June 2021, Holmberg raised about $20,000 (equivalent to about $22,000 in 2023) for his 2022 reelection campaign.[12] In March 2022, Holmberg announced he would not seek reelection that year due to "health issues including weakened cognitive abilities". After an investigation was published about his communications with an inmate accused of child pornography crimes, Holmberg resigned from the Senate[13] six months early, on June 1, 2022. He was replaced by Jonathan Sickler.[14] Despite no longer working in the North Dakota State Capitol, as of November 2023, Holmberg was still active in politics: offering advice and meeting with legislators to share access to his institutional knowledge, soliciting support for Republican candidates, and corresponding with politicos.[12]

Electoral history

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2010, primary, North Dakota state senate, 17th District[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Holmberg 1,198 99.34
Republican Write-in candidate(s) 8 0.66
2010, general, North Dakota state senate, 17th District[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Holmberg 4,088 67.91
Democratic–NPL Thomas Petros 1,915 31.81
Write-in candidate(s) 17 0.28
2014, primary, North Dakota state senate, 17th District[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Holmberg 784 99.87
Republican Write-in candidate(s) 1 0.13
2014, general, North Dakota state senate, 17th District[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Holmberg 4,869 97.97
Write-in candidate(s) 101 2.03
2018, primary, North Dakota state senate, 17th District[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Holmberg 1,519 99.67
Republican Write-in candidate(s) 5 0.33
2018, general, North Dakota state senate, 17th District[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray Holmberg 5,176 59.03
Democratic–NPL Phyllis E Johnson 3,584 40.87
Write-in candidate(s) 9 0.10

Criminal charges

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Background

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In 2020, Caton Todd (formerly of North Dakota) alleged he was sexually assaulted by Holmberg in 2010, after having been invited to the senator's Miami-area condominium. Holmberg's attorney later confirmed the two men spent time together and that Holmberg owned the condo.[13]

In March 2021, Nicholas James Morgan-DeRosier (from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, born 1988 or 1989) was charged with ten counts of possessing child pornography photos and videos.[21] In January 2022, a grand jury in the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota further indicted Morgan-DeRosier for "receiving and distributing child porn, transporting child porn, transporting minors with intent for those children to engage in sexual activity, and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity".[22] Court documents listed Morgan-DeRosier having over 6500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.[10]

On August 23, 2021, while Morgan-DeRosier was incarcerated in the Grand Forks County, North Dakota jail on the possession charges, he texted Holmberg, and the two exchanged 65 messages between 3:23 and 5:24 p.m., in part discussing Holmberg's interest in meeting Morgan-DeRosier's 19-or-20-year-old boyfriend "to give him a massage". The next day, Holmberg texted Morgan-DeRosier, and seven messages were passed back and forth between 6:14 and 6:31 p.m. Morgan-DeRosier was bailed out at 9:14 p.m. on August 24. These text exchanges came to light as federal prosecutor Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl's evidence at Morgan-DeRosier's detention hearing. When The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead uncovered this connection and asked Holmberg about them, the legislator said the messages were about patio construction, claimed ignorance of the massage-related messages, and both claimed to have read about Morgan-DeRosier's changes while also not knowing about them. He later told The Forum, of his texts with Morgan-DeRosier, "They're just gone."[10] Morgan-DeRosier pled guilty to "seven criminal charges related to possessing and distributing child pornography" in September 2023. On May 30, 2024, Judge Peter Welte imposed a sentence of 40 years imprisonment, victim restitution of $39,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.[23]

At 9:30 a.m. on November 17, 2021, Holmberg's Grand Forks condominium was searched by two special agents from the federal Department of Homeland Security, Daniel Casetta and Timothy Litzinger, and Detective Jennifer Freeman from the Grand Forks Police Department. Holmberg was interviewed by the agents, and evidentiary material was seized from his home, including CD-Rs and DVD-Rs.[24] Law enforcement also seized Holmberg's state-issued iPad and laptop computer.[25] The federal investigation also recovered data from devices belonging to former North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem; some of which also proved relevant for the May 2024 jury trial of state representative Jason Dockter on misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charges.[26]

Federal indictment and trial

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A grand jury in the US District Court for North Dakota returned an indictment against Holmberg on October 26, 2023 (United States of America v. Raymon Everett Holmberg).[11] He was accused of thrice traveling to Prague, Czech Republic—June 24, 2011; September 29, 2018; and late June 2019—to illegally have sex with minors. The trips were state-funded in cooperation with Atlantik-Brücke to "understand and integrate the various facets of international politics, business, academia and culture".[27] Holmberg was also indicted for receiving or attempting to receive child pornography (between November 24, 2012, and March 4, 2013); Jennifer Puhl testified that Holmberg used the aliases Sean Evan and Sean Evans "to convince a child to send him sexually explicit images".[11]

Arrested and arraigned on October 30, Holmberg pled not-guilty at the U.S. District Court in Fargo.[28] Judge Alice Senechal released Holmberg under these conditions: forfeiture of his passport; no contact with minors, victims, and witnesses; no access to the internet, no travel outside Greater Grand Forks[11] or Fargo; and no possession of firearms.[29] Senechal set a trial date of December 5, 2023,[11] to be adjudicated by Judge Daniel L. Hovland. If convicted for child sex tourism, Holmberg could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years imprisonment and $250,000 in fines; if convicted on the child pornography charge, Holmberg will receive a sentence between 5–20 years.[29] On November 14, upon request of Holmberg's defense team, and with no objection from the federal prosecutor, Hovland postponed the Fargo trial to April 29, which was expected to last five days;[30] in March 2024, it was delayed again until September 9.[31]

On August 8th, 2024, Holmberg pleaded guilty to child sex tourism in return for the child pornography charges being dropped. He also agreed to register as a sex offender and to waive his right to appeal against the conviction.[32]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kurtz, Adam (June 8, 2021). "44 years in, Sen. Ray Holmberg is tied for longest serving state senator in the nation". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2023. Holmberg was informed of his status by the National Conference of State Legislatures, a group dedicated to advancing the effectiveness of those governing bodies and their inter-state cooperation, after the retirement of the longest-serving state politician, a Wisconsin Democratic Assembly member.
  2. ^ Puhl, Jennifer, United States of America v. Raymon Everett Holmberg (PDF), United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, archived (PDF) from the original on October 31, 2023, retrieved November 2, 2023 – via KVRR
  3. ^ a b c Turley, Jeremy (December 10, 2020). "Longtime Grand Forks lawmaker, 3 legislative staffers test positive for COVID-19 after meetings". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023. Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, said he almost certainly caught the virus from 'our petri dish called the Legislature' since he hadn't been anywhere else in the last two weeks.
  4. ^ Peterson, Ronald; Evenson, Duane, eds. (1961). The Viking Yearbook. Climax, Minnesota: Climax High School.
  5. ^ "Grand Forks County Equalization", Grand Forks County Marriage Records, Grand Forks, North Dakota, April 27, 1973 – via Ancestry.com
  6. ^ a b "Senator Ray Holmberg". North Dakota Legislative Council. North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Dura, Jack (November 2, 2023). "State funded some trips for ex-North Dakota senator charged with traveling to pay for sex with minor". Bismarck, North Dakota: Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Dura, Jack (June 24, 2024). "Former North Dakota lawmaker to plead guilty to traveling to pay for sex with minor". Bismarck, North Dakota: Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "Judge finds North Dakota violated Voting Rights Act, diluted Native American vote". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. November 17, 2023. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024. A federal judge ruled Friday, Nov. 17, that the North Dakota Legislature will have until Dec. 22 to remedy the violation
  10. ^ a b c Baumgarten, April (April 15, 2022). "North Dakota's longest-serving state senator exchanged 72 texts with jailed child porn suspect". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Grand Forks, North Dakota. ISSN 0895-1292. OCLC 9563116. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023. State Sen. Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks told a reporter he no longer had the text messages. When asked what happened to the texts, Holmberg said, 'They're just gone.'
  11. ^ a b c d e Baumgarten, April (October 30, 2023). "Former North Dakota Sen. Ray Holmberg denies traveling to have sex with minors after federal indictment". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023. An indictment that was unsealed Monday alleged he traveled to Prague with intentions to have sex with minors, as well as received or attempted to receive child porn.
  12. ^ a b Port, Rob (November 2, 2023). "Holmberg stayed in contact with lawmakers even amid scandal". The Dickinson Press. Minot, North Dakota. ISSN 1049-6718. OCLC 1566609. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023. Former Sen. Ray Holmberg, who is currently facing federal criminal charges, has kept up correspondence with current state lawmakers
  13. ^ a b Turley, Jeremy (April 25, 2022). "North Dakota Sen. Holmberg to resign after text exchanges with jailed child porn suspect". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Bismarck, North Dakota. ISSN 0895-1292. OCLC 9563116. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023. An investigation published by The Forum on April 15 revealed that North Dakota Sen. Ray Holmberg exchanged 72 text messages in August with Nicholas Morgan-Derosier, a Grand Forks County Jail inmate suspected of child porn and sex abuse crimes.
  14. ^ Barrett, Doug (June 1, 2022). "Republicans select Sickler in District 17". KNOX. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  15. ^ "Official 2010 Primary Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official 2010 General Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Official 2014 Primary Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. June 10, 2014. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  18. ^ "Official 2014 General Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Official 2018 Primary Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. June 12, 2018. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "Official 2018 General Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Shirley, Hannah (March 27, 2021). "East Grand Forks landscaper charged with possession of child pornography". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023. Nicholas James Morgan DeRosier, 33, could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted for possessing child porn.
  22. ^ Baumgarten, April (January 14, 2022). "Grand Forks man charged with exchanging child porn, transporting kids with intent to sexually abuse them". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Fargo, North Dakota. ISSN 0895-1292. OCLC 9563116. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023. Court documents detail the child porn files allegedly found on electronic devices owned by Nicholas Morgan-Derosier.
  23. ^ Beach, Jeff (May 30, 2024). "Man linked to former state senator sentenced to 40 years on child porn charges". North Dakota Monitor. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Baumgarten, April (May 6, 2022). "Feds searched home of North Dakota Sen. Holmberg, took items into evidence". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023. Officers who searched Holmberg's condo in Grand Forks also investigated a child porn suspect who exchanged texts with the state senator.
  25. ^ Baumgarten, April (June 8, 2022). "Former North Dakota lawmaker's state-issued laptop, iPad seized after texts with child porn suspect". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023. Federal agents took several electronic items and storage devices from Ray Holmberg's home in November, including some the state of North Dakota gave him to use as a lawmaker, his attorney confirmed.
  26. ^ Jurgens, Paul (April 15, 2024). "Trial for Bismarck lawmaker still scheduled for early May". Bismarck, North Dakota: KFGO-FM. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  27. ^ Baumgarten, April (November 1, 2023). "Ray Holmberg, accused of traveling to have sex with a child in Prague, used state funds for trips to city". Grand Forks Herald. ISSN 0745-9661. OCLC 1751382. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023. Receipts showed the former North Dakota senator used the Global Bridges program to travel to Prague at least three times, including once that fell in the timeframe of the federal allegations.
  28. ^ Dura, Jack (October 30, 2023). "Ex-North Dakota lawmaker charged with traveling for sex with minor, receiving child sex abuse images". Bismarck, North Dakota: Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Carvell, Tasha (October 30, 2023). "Former State Sen. Holmberg indicted on child sex tourism & pornography charges; pleads not guilty". Grand Forks, North Dakota: KFGO. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  30. ^ Dura, Jack (November 14, 2023). "Trial rescheduled for April for former N.D. lawmaker accused of traveling for sex with minor". The Seattle Times. Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press. ISSN 0745-9696. OCLC 9198928. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  31. ^ Schonert, Ty (March 11, 2024). "Trial in former ND Senator's child sex abuse case delayed to September". Fargo, North Dakota: WZFG. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  32. ^ Beach, Jeff (August 8, 2024). "Former North Dakota lawmaker pleads guilty to traveling for sex with children". North Dakota Monitor. States Newsroom. Retrieved August 16, 2024.

Further reading

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