Man faces life sentences for sexual assault

A Grand Forks man is facing multiple life sentences after being charged with three counts of gross sexual imposition Thursday in Grand Forks County District Court.

James Riley Osborne, 24, is accused of forcing a woman to have sex for four hours early Wednesday morning, during which he held her down, choked her and took cellphone photos of the acts.

He is also charged with felonious restraint and aggravated assault, both Class C felonies.

A court affidavit said Osborne and the victim met about a month ago and communicated online through dating website okcupid.com.

They decided to meet each other Tuesday night, and the victim went to Osborne’s house at about 10:10 p.m. She told police they went into Osborne’s bedroom because he claimed the rest of the house was too dirty.

The affidavit said after talking for between 30 and 45 minutes, the two engaged in consensual sex. She decided to leave his house at 11:30 p.m., getting dressed and going to the front door to put on her shoes.

The victim told police Osborne tried to convince her to stay, saying he wanted to “get to know” her better and gently pulling her back toward the bedroom at one point. She said she thought it was nice he wanted to talk to her more and the victim agreed to return to the bedroom.

According to the affidavit, he began to forcibly take off her clothes. She said “no” and “stop,” but he pushed her arms down and forced her down by grabbing her wrists.

She told police at one point Osborne put a finger in her mouth and she bit it in anger. He began choking her and she said he was always on top of her, which prevented her from leaving.

The victim told police he had forcible sex with her many times over the next four hours and she repeatedly told him to stop.

She told police he choked her two more times in the next four hours and began taking cellphone pictures.

According to the affidavit, Osborne told her she could leave at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and she went immediately to Altru Hospital. The initial investigation showed bruising on both of the victim’s wrists and right forearm, as well as swelling and redness.

Osborne admitted in an interview with police to having consensual sex with the woman but denied the victim ever got dressed or left the bed. He also denied the victim ever told him to stop or said “no.”

He admitted to taking photos and having “rough sex” with the woman. Osborne told authorities he may have got “a little out of control” with the victim and said he was “pretty buzzed” after drinking rum and Coke before the meeting.

Gross sexual imposition is a Class AA felony, punishable by life in prison. Class C felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

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Tags: grand forks, news, crime, sex, asault