Joshua Dale Larson, age 18 of Deer Creek, has been charged with three felonies, including criminal sexual conduct in the first degree – penetration or contact under 14 – actor more than 36 months older, solicit child to engage in sexual conduct – prohibited act, and engage in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with a child. 

All three felonies relate to incidents that occurred on, or about, August 10, 2025 through March 3, 2026. 

According to a statement of probable cause, on March 11, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Detective Steve Branby received information regarding a child maltreatment report received through Otter Tail County Human Services. The information was regarding an alleged sexual relationship occurring between Larson and a 12-year-old juvenile female. The juvenile’s mother reportedly told Sgt. Branby that the juvenile female informed her that she and Larson had sex four times, the last time being sometime around Christmas break in 2025, when the female was just 12. 

On March 13 a child protective investigator spoke with the juvenile female who stated the two started to “talk” when she was 11 and he was 17 and started dating. She believed the first time they had sex was in the summer 2025 when she was 12 and Larson was 17. The juvenile female also described Larson asking her to “send nudes” of which she obliged. She went on to say she initially did not want to have sex and told him “no,” but Larson just kept doing it and then eventually she was fine with it.

According to the statement of probable cause, Branby met with Larson who started having a relationship with the juvenile female in the summer of 2025 and that it ended because she was “way too young.” He confirmed they had sexual relations at his residence on multiple occasions and thought the last time was around November 2025. A cursory search of Larson’s cell phone showed sexually explicit messages occurring between the juvenile female and Larson.

Larson had his first appearance hearing in Otter Tail County District Court on March 16 and is scheduled for an omnibus hearing on April 8. 

If convicted of the most serious charge, criminal sexual conduct in the first degree – penetration or contact under 14 – actor more than 36 months older, Larson could face a maximum of 30 years in prison and/or a $40,000 fine or both. The other two charges each carry a maximum of not more than five years or to pay a fine of not more than $10,000 or both.