Richland County State’s Attorney Placed on Probation Following Discovery of Misconduct in Sexual Assault Prosecution

Richland County State’s Attorney Megan Kummer faces one year of probation for misleading charging documents and electronic signature misuse in a 2025 case.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 4:50 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from InForum

Disciplinary Action Against Richland County Prosecutor

Richland County State’s Attorney Megan Kummer has received a formal reprimand and a one-year probationary period following an investigation into her conduct during a 2025 sexual assault case. The North Dakota Supreme Court Disciplinary Board signed the order in late February and early March 2026, requiring Kummer to pay a $250 fine and complete three hours of software training. Kummer consented to the disciplinary measures, which stem from violations of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct regarding the filing of legal documents and the use of electronic signatures.

Improper Use of Electronic Signatures in Charging Documents

The misconduct centers on a gross sexual imposition charge filed against 52-year-old Raymond William David Ruschel in May 2025. According to the Disciplinary Board, Kummer authored a declaration of probable cause and "affixed" the electronic signature of Richland County Deputy Latasha Keller without the deputy's review or authorization. The board's investigation revealed that Deputy Keller had not seen the document nor authorized the specific wording before it was filed in court, despite the document claiming she attested to the statements "under penalty of perjury."

Discrepancies in DNA Evidence and Reporting

The case against Ruschel, a former defensive lineman for the North Dakota State College of Science, was further complicated by conflicting statements regarding DNA evidence. The charging documents claimed a sexual assault kit showed "prepubescent" or "vasectomized" semen. However, a State Crime Lab report indicated that while a sample was presumptively positive for semen, it could not be confirmed and did not meet the quantitative threshold for DNA analysis. Ruschel's attorney, Richard Edinger, accused the prosecutor’s office of intentionally misleading the court by exaggerating the strength of the state’s forensic evidence.