Abshere pleads guilty to felony charge in sex case

Kristopher Abshere, 33, has pleaded guilty to a Class AA felony charge for impregnating a 14-year-old girl in 2022.

Abshere was arrested last June after it was revealed he'd impregnated the 14-year-old, and was charged with gross sexual imposition of a minor under 15 years old, a Class AA felony.

According to Court documents, Abshere had been living with the girl and her family since May 2021, at first in Carrington and then in New Rockford.

Throughout that time, court documents say Abshere was sexually involved with the girl, who ultimately became pregnant at just 14.

She later gave birth to the child in April of last year, and court documents say multiple text and instagram messages prove that Abshere is both the father, and that he'd fallen in love with the 14-year-old.

"On May 11, 2023, they exchanged dozens of messages professing their love for each other," state court documents. "When Jane Doe said she was, 'scared to what's coming next for the three of us," the Defendant replied, 'I miss you too. I love you so much.' "

Abshere originally pleaded not guilty to the Class AA felony charge, and appeared to be prepared to take his case to trial, which was set to begin on Monday, April 15.

However, facing a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole, Abshere elected to leave his fate in the hands of a judge, rather than a jury.

Appearing at the Foster County Courthouse on Tuesday, April 2, Abshere officially changed his plea to guilty, but he has not yet learned his fate.

After hearing the change of plea, District Court Judge James Hovey ordered a pre-sentence investigation, which is meant to look into the background of a convicted person in order to determine if there are extenuating circumstances that could impact the leniency or severity of a sentence.

A sentencing hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, will take place upon the conclusion of that investigation.

The minimum sentence Abshere could face for a Class AA felony is five years imprisonment. He will also have to register as a sex offender for no less than 15 years and potentially for the rest of his life.