Bail set in Moorhead sexual assault case

MOORHEAD – A Fargo man accused of punching and sexually assaulting a woman in her car in a downtown Moorhead parking lot made his first court appearance Wednesday in Clay County District Court.

Bail was set at $500,000 cash or bond without conditions or $100,000 with conditions for 46-year-old Richard Lee Haaland Jr.

Haaland is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the Sept. 6 incident. He was arrested late Friday when authorities executed a search warrant at his north Fargo residence.

Moorhead police said tips from the public in response to the release of surveillance video footage were instrumental in identifying Haaland as a suspect.

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