A 19-year-old man from Louisville, Kentucky, Andrew Bearden Williams, was arrested on May 29, 2013 and charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct after a 15-year-old Grand Marais girl reported a sexual assault that occurred on May 25, 2013.
Williams was charged with two counts of felony criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree with a victim aged 13-15 by a suspect 24 months older or more; one count of criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree by force or coercion; and one count of soliciting a child to engage in sexual conduct. He was also charged with gross misdemeanors for non-consensual sexual contact and lewd exhibition with an individual under 16 present.
In an interview with a Cook County Sheriff Deputy, a Violence Prevention Center advocate and her mother on May 29, the girl gave explicit details of the incident and said she believed it was obvious that she was resisting. She reported that she was sore from her efforts to resist.
When he was arrested, Williams admitted he spent time alone with the girl at a friend’s house, but denied that any inappropriate contact occurred.
A jury trial was scheduled for January 15-17, but was cancelled. On January 28, 2014, Williams submitted a plea agreement, entering a plea of guilty to two of the charges—the gross misdemeanor charge of lewd exhibition with a person under 16 present and the felony criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree with a victim 13-15 when 24 months or older.
Williams was sentenced by Judge Michael Cuzzo on April 15, 2014.
For the gross misdemeanor charge of lewd exhibition with a person under 16, Williams was sentenced to 365 days of local confinement. He received credit for 320 days served.
For the felony criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree, he was sentenced to 36 months confinement at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. Confinement was stayed for seven years on the conditions that Williams abide by a number of conditions. He must participate in a sex offender program; not possess or use any pornographic or sexually explicit material; have no contact with persons under age 18 unless approved by probation; have no access to or use of the Internet or social networking except as approved by probation; must not enter bars, liquor stores or social gatherings with alcohol; must supply a DNA sample and must register as a predatory offender.
Williams must also pay a $50 fine plus court costs and fees for a total of $140.
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