Ex-Warroad City Cop Pleads Guilty to All Counts

Former Warroad City Cop Joshua Matthew Demmerly, who was arrested on April 1, 2019, and has been in jail since on two criminal sexual conduct charges in the 3rd Degree and also charged with stalking a minor or minors while still on the Warroad Police Department.

He pled guilty on Monday, September 16, in Courtroom One of the Roseau County Courthouse.

During the plea, a Rule 15 hearing, Mr. Demmerly was sworn in and answered questions in regards to Counts I and II of Criminal Sexual Conduct with juveniles, now reduced to the 4th Degree - each of which carries maximum sentences of 10 years in prison.

According to Count I, In September of 2017, in the County of Roseau, State of Minnesota, Joshua Matthew Demmerly (DOB 8/3/1989), the Defendant, engaged in sexual contact with a juvenile, Victim 1, at least 16, after providing the juvenile with alcohol and while the juvenile was physically helpless in that the juvenile was unconscious and not awake.

According to Count II, In May of 2018, in the County of Roseau, State of Minnesota, Joshua Matthew Demmerly (DOB 8/31/89), the Defendant, engaged in sexual contact with a juvenile, Victim 1, accomplishing the sexual contact by coercing Victim 1 into allowing it.

Additionally, the two felony stalking charges carry a maximum of 10 years in prison.

During the questioning, the defendant agreed that the prosecution possesses evidence that Demmerly committed one or more other crimes.

Near the conclusion of the questioning, Mr. Demmerly admitted that he now makes no claim that he is innocent.

According to the final written statement in the Rule 15 document, which Demmerly signed, it read: That in view of all the above facts and considerations, I wish to enter a plea of guilty to each of the four counts contained in the amended complaint.

The prosecuting attorney was James Carl Austad, Lake of the Woods County. Mr. Demmerly was represented by Grand Forks attorney Shawn Leonard Autry.

Mr. Demmerly will be sentenced on Friday, November 8, at 1 p.m.