Man accused of multiple sex-related crimes

A Carlton County man faces 10 felony charges related to criminal sexual conduct for repeatedly groping and sexually touching three juvenile girls over a period of several years, according to authorities.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred while he was romantically involved with an adult relative of the girls.

Jamie Alden Godbout, 33, was charged in Sixth District Carlton County Court last month with seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, plus two counts of attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, all with victims under the ages of 16 or 13 at the time.

According to the criminal complaint, Carlton County officials learned of the allegations against Godbout after two of the minor accusers told officials in Superior. Due to the allegations of sexual contact, including digital penetration, occuring in Carlton County, the investigation was assigned to the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office.

Following a forensic interview with the alleged victims, the oldest accuser showed an investigator screenshots of social media messages between her and Godbout. In the messages, he allegedly tells her he loves her, the complaint said, and that “she is his in 20 months,” plus other sexual messages. The now 16-year-old told authorities she was 13 the first time Godbout started making sexual remarks to her, and he allegedly started touching her when she was 14, including putting his hands in her pants when she was sleeping, causing her pain. There were also allegations of attempts to force even more sex.

Another accuser told interviewers that Godbout abused her from age 8 to 11, alleging he touched her in a sexual manner when she was asleep and forced her to rub him at locations in Cloquet and Superior, the criminal complaint said.

During the course of the investigation, Superior police received a report of another underage accuser who alleged being touched by Godbout when he was babysitting.

The woman with whom he was in a relationship told authorities she broke it off when the oldest accuser informed her about the conduct. The woman did not report Godbout to the authorities.

When he was interviewed by police, Godbout denied ever being in a bed with any of the children and stated he was “aware” of only some of the accusations.

Bail was set at $20,000 cash or $200,000 bond with no conditions and a no-contact order was issued. The maximum sentencing for each first-degree charge is 30 years, $40,000 fine, or both.

An omnibus hearing in the case is set for 9:15 a.m. Nov. 16.