Head of ND department will be prosecuted

Cory Pedersen was taken into custody after a woman who is the protected party in a domestic case in Burleigh County reported seeing his pickup within 100 feet of her workplace, a violation of the arrangement represents. Both Pedersen and the woman work at the Capitol.

Pedersen, 51, faces a misdemeanor charge that carries a maximum penalty of nearly a year in prison and a $3,000 fine. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. Defense attorney Chad McCabe called the case “simply a misunderstanding.”

“He went to work at the Capitol,” McCabe told South Central District Judge Bonnie Storbakken. “From my understanding, I believe the alleged victim has jurisdiction over the Supreme Court.”

McCabe also proposed some sort of exception that would allow Pedersen to do his job since both his office and the Supreme Court are located in the Capitol complex.

Pedersen told Storbakken that he is making arrangements to do as much work remotely as possible.

The woman took photos of Pedersen’s vehicle and of Pedersen on Tuesday, then alerted Highway Patrol officers in charge of Capitol security, the affidavit said. Officers reportedly received a copy of the protection order, which stated that Pedersen was not allowed to come within 100 feet of the woman, her home or place of work. They also determined that Pedersen’s key card had been used to enter the Capitol. Officers went to his home and he allegedly admitted to being on Capitol grounds.

Protective orders are not public records, so the circumstances of the order and the relationship between Pedersen and the woman are not clear. Court records indicate Pedersen has been divorced since 2020.

A review of state law shows that first-time violations of such orders are punished as misdemeanors and subsequent violations are punished as felonies, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Storbakken set Pedersen’s bail at $500 unsecured. Pedersen requested permission to travel to a conference in Alabama next week. Storbakken said she would allow work-related travel, but otherwise Pedersen would be barred from leaving North Dakota while the case was pending.

Children and Family Services is a division of the state Department of Health and Human Services. Pedersen was appointed director on November 15, 2019. Previously, he worked for 24 years as deputy director of the Division of Juvenile Services at the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The Children and Family Service develops policies and provides technical assistance related to child welfare services, including child protection, foster care, independent living services for older foster youth, family preservation services, and adoption. The department also licenses service providers and conducts criminal background checks on regulated foster care and child care providers and their employees, adoptive families, court-appointed guardians, and residential facility employees.

An HHS spokesman did not immediately respond to the Tribune about Pedersen’s employment status in light of the allegations.

Pedersen’s trial is scheduled for December 18.