Sex offender moves into Jamestown

A high-risk sex offender has moved to the Ranch House Motel in Jamestown, according to the Jamestown Police Department.

Jacob K. Close, 22, is living at the motel, 408 Business Loop W., in room #6 following his release from the Secure Services Unit of the North Dakota State Hospital. He was convicted in December 1999 of gross sexual imposition in Ramsey County Juvenile Court for engaging in sexual acts on three separate occasions with an 8-year-old girl, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy. Close continued to engage in inappropriate sexual behavior while in a juvenile facility.

Close was placed for a year with the Department of Juvenile Services.

Close is a lifetime registrant. He is not currently on parole or probation. He has been assigned a high-risk assessment by the North Dakota Risk Level Committee of the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

The police department said Close is considered a sexually dangerous individual. A person considered a sexually dangerous individual is someone who has been committed for custody and treatment by a court after making findings that the person 1) engaged in sexually predatory conduct, and 2) has a disorder or dysfunction making the person likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct.

Close is not wanted by police at this time, the department said. He has served his sentence. The notification is for public safety and not to increase fear in the community. The notice also should not be used to threaten, assault or intimidate Close. Attempts to do this to Close or his family members, landlords or employers will be turned over for prosecution.

Close is a white male, 6-feet-1-inch tall weighing 250 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. He has no vehicle, police said.

Printed handouts of Close’s demographics are available at the Jamestown Police Department. More information on registered offenders is available at the North Dakota Attorney General Office’s Web site, www.sexoffender.nd.gov/.

Tags: sex offender, news, jamestown, close