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Havre businessman accused of raping teen with mental disabilities

A Havre businessman is in state District Court to face charges he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl with the mental ability of a 5-year-old.

Joseph E. “Jed” Damson is scheduled for arraignment Oct. 3 on felony charges of sexual intercourse without consent and sexual assault.

The investigation that led to the charges started Aug. 1, when Havre police received a report of possible sexual abuse of a child, a court document says.

Two people who work at a store in the Atrium Shopping Mall reported the 15-year-old daughter of one of the people was sexually assaulted by Damson, who operates a store in the Atrium.

The girl, whose mother said she processes information on the level of a 5-year-old, told her mother that “Grandpa Jed” became angry with her when she told him he could no longer do the “boyfriend classes” with her, the document says.

She told her mother that Damson was teaching her how to be a good girlfriend and wife by giving her “boyfriend classes” when they would go for walks to an emergency exit in the mall.

The alleged victim told a forensic interviewer that included kissing her on the lips with “grandpa kisses” and touching her through and inside her clothes, including penetration, the document says. She said the first time the actions happened was July 20, and the last July 31.

Damson also was arrested Aug. 5 on a charge of violating a protective order.

 

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