By: Devin Fry
ROGERS, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Rogers man faces felony charges after a woman told investigators he choked and sexually assaulted her at his home in November.
Mark Travis Knight, 57, is charged with gross sexual imposition and gross sexual imposition causing serious bodily injury. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Nov. 3, 2025, at Knight’s residence in Barnes County.
According to court documents, the woman and Knight had been texting for about a month and had met once before the alleged assault. The woman told deputies that she went to Knight’s home the evening of Nov. 2 after he picked her up because her car wasn’t working.
The woman said things were fine initially, but she had trouble sleeping and kept getting up throughout the night. She told investigators Knight became annoyed with her restlessness.
In her interview with deputies, the woman said Knight pinned her down by the throat while sexually assaulting her. She described feeling like she was losing consciousness and feared she would die.
“She said she thought she wasn’t going to get out of this,” the deputy wrote in the affidavit.
The woman said she was able to answer a phone call from her roommate, who had become concerned and taken a taxi to Knight’s residence. She left with them shortly after.
The roommate told investigators the woman whispered that Knight had strangled her when she got into the taxi.
The woman was examined by a SANE nurse. Court documents indicate she had signs of sexual assault and reported difficulty swallowing, though no throat damage was found. She told investigators she continued bleeding for days after the incident.
Knight agreed to meet with investigators on Nov. 22. In that interview, he acknowledged the woman was at his home that night but denied any violence occurred.
Knight told a deputy that the woman was under the influence of marijuana and alcohol when she arrived. He said she became upset when he asked her to be quiet so he could watch a football game.
“He said nothing ever happened that she didn’t want or ask for,” according to the affidavit.
A warrant was issued for Knight’s arrest Jan. 16. He appeared in court via Zoom for his initial hearing that same day.
