Fergus Falls man charged in missing juvenile case in Otter Tail County

A Fergus Falls man is facing a felony charge after authorities said a juvenile reported missing was found hiding in a basement in Underwood, a case that moved quickly from a runaway report to criminal charges in Otter Tail County.

Garret Richard Moses was filed on April 27 in Otter Tail County on one count of deprive-custody/parent rights-refuse return minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a child or status as petty offender. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 19.

According to the probable-cause summary, the case began on April 24 when Otter Tail County Sheriff's Lt. Huckeby was contacted by Fergus Falls Police Lt. Miller about a possible runaway juvenile. Investigators later located the juvenile in the basement of a residence in Underwood. The complaint says the juvenile was trying to conceal herself and was holding a beer can when found.

The summary also states the juvenile had been at the residence since April 19. Court records list the juvenile’s date of birth as Jan. 18, 2011, and Moses’ date of birth as Sept. 6, 2005. That age gap places the child at 15 years old and Moses at 20, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations tied to custody and concealment.

Minnesota law treats certain intentional acts involving concealment of a minor or refusing to return a child as a felony under state statute 609.26, which is cited in the case materials. In practical terms, the charge reflects a response beyond a simple missing-person report: once deputies believed the juvenile had been hidden and not returned, the case escalated into a felony matter.

The sequence shows how fast local authorities in Fergus Falls and Otter Tail County moved once the possible runaway report came in. For families, it is a reminder that a child who disappears, especially for several days, can move from a household concern to a law-enforcement emergency very quickly, particularly when there are signs of concealment, alcohol, or another adult’s involvement.