Man Sentenced for Molesting Neighbor Girl

A Fargo man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a teenage neighbor girl.

52-year-old J. Erin Rourke maintains his innocence and told the judge he plans to appeal.

Rourke was convicted in May of molesting the girl for more than a year.

The judge said there was ample evidence that Rourke was grooming the girl for a sexual relationship and his conduct was an abuse of trust.