Update: Criminal sexual misconduct charge filed against retired North Dakota Game & Fish Director

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR-KFGO) – A criminal sexual misconduct charge has been filed against the retired director of North Dakota Game & Fish Department.

The complaint, filed in South-Central District Court, says a five-year-old girl told a counselor at the Bismarck Children’s Advocacy Center that Steinwand touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions, both over and under her clothes.

Steinwand was later interviewed by a Mandan police investigator at the police station. He admitted to touching the girl in what he described as a tickling motion and used it to calm her down.

Steinwand was arrested Friday, Sept. 5 and taken to the Burleigh Morton Detention Center in Bismarck where he spent the weekend.

The charge of gross sexual imposition is a felony. A conviction carries a maximum five years in prison.

Steinwand spent 40 years with game and fish. He retired as director in July, 2021.