MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 22-year-old homeless man was arrested Wednesday after exposing himself at Como Zoo and Conservatory near a children’s play area.

Joshua Lor is accused of pulling down his pants around 11 a.m. and touching himself in front of several people, including a young boy and his grandmother, who called authorities.

(credit: Ramsey County)

Zoo officials responded to the conservatory and followed Lor until police arrived.

St. Paul police spokesman Steve Linders says Lor admitted to pulling down his pants and apologized.

Lor is charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a gross misdemeanor. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison and/or a $3,000 fine.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A ride attendant at the Mall of America is accused of touching a woman between the legs over the weekend as she was strapping into her seat.

Eighteen-year-old Amin Mohamed, of Minneapolis, is charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, documents filed in Hennepin County show.

Amin Mohamed (credit: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)

According to a criminal complaint, the victim told police that she was getting onto a Nickelodeon Universe ride with her son when Mohamed touched her.

She said that he reached his hand between her legs, with the palm up and middle finger extended.

In the complaint, investigators noted that the buckle on the seat is by the rider’s hip, “nowhere near” the groin area.

Police arrested Mohamed and booked him into jail.

If convicted of the criminal sexual conduct charge, he faces a maximum penalty of one year behind bars and/or a fine of $3,000.

[Video above is from April 2017]

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A former Burnsville High School music teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student has pleaded guilty Monday.

Erik Akervik, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection to having sex with the student and sending nude photos of himself to another student.

A second count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for the same act involving the same victim has been dismissed.

After Akervik was initially charged, more teenagers came forward from the church accusing him of sending inappropriate messages.

A sentencing date has been set for June 14.

A felony charge of electronic solicitation of a child was previously severed by the court and is now set for a jury trial on July 9.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 33-year-old teacher in Duluth has been arrested on probable cause for third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a teenager.

According to CBS 3 Duluth, Karla Winterfield was booked into the St. Louis County Jail on Monday afternoon on the felony charge.

Winterfield, who is a health teacher in Lincoln Park Middle School, is now on administrative leave. Details on the specifics of the crime have not been released.

Police did say the victim has been identified and do not believe there are other victims.

The Duluth School District released a statement Tuesday, saying it is cooperating with police in the investigation and that the allegations against Winterfield are “shocking and disappointing and the safety and well-being of students is our topmost priority.”

In 2016, Winterfield was in the news when she earned Duluth News Tribune’s “20 Under 40” in 2016.

Winterfield is due in court on Wednesday.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Michigan man was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to attempting to sexually assault a 7-year-old girl while staying at an Airbnb in Minnetonka back in September of 2017.

Derrick Kinchen, 28, had pleaded guilty to one count of attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim under 13. He was sentenced Tuesday to five years supervised probation. If he abides by the terms, he’ll have an 18-month jail sentence stayed.

Derrick Kinchen (credit: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)

Kinchen pled guilty in the case with a Norgaard plea, where the defendant claims they are unable to recall facts of the incident due to intoxication. In the plea, he admitted he was in the Twin Cities for a wedding, and returned to the Minnetonka Airbnb at around midnight.

The 7-year-old girl was sleeping in her parents’ bedroom. According to the attorney’s office, about 15 minutes after the girl’s father came home, he went up to the bedroom and found Kinchen lying naked on the bed next to his daughter. The father yelled at Kinchen, who grabbed his coat and wallet and ran.

Kinchen told the court he remembers drinking a lot that night, going to the bathroom and returning to what he thought was his room. After that, he remembers being yelled at and running away.

He said he fell asleep in a neighbor’s boat and woke up when a police dog bit him. He was then arrested.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Authorities in Olmsted County say a Kasson police officer, who shot himself in early June, is accused of criminal sexual conduct beginning in 1992

On June 2, Kasson Police Offier Julio Baez, 51, was discovered with self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was taken to an area hospital and treated for his injuries.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office says it learned two days later of potential criminal activity by Baez. He’s accused of criminal sexual conduct occurring many years with multiple victims, beginning in 1992 and occurring in various counties, including Olmsted and Dodge counties.

The sheriff’s office says it believes there was only one incident of domestic abuse that occurred while Baez was working in an official capacity at the Kasson Police Department, believed to be in 2004.

Baez, who was released from the hospital on June 19, was taken into custody by police on probable case that evening in Winona.

On Thursday, Baez was charged with two felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13 years old and one felony county of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The charges involved criminal sexual conduct with minors, who had a close relationship with Baez.

Baez is being held on $1 million bail without conditions and $500,000 with conditions. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison for each of his first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges, and up to 15 years on the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

The investigation remains active.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 32-year-old New Hope woman has been sentenced for having sex with an underage student multiple times, according to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

On Monday, Christine Funk was sentenced with a stay of execution of 36 months, 180 days in jail, 10 years of probation. She also must register as a predatory offender.

Funk was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

While working as a Henry Sibley music teacher, Funk engaged in sexual relations with a 17-year-old student on three occasions in February 2017.

“Sexual abuse of a student by a teacher is deeply disturbing conduct,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said. “We are pleased to have brought Ms. Funk to justice for this criminal act.”

Backstrom also thanked those who prosecuted and investigated the case.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A St. Paul coffee shop owner is facing charges after a 15-year-old girl says he sexually assaulted her last week.

Eduardo Delariva-Larios was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the case. He’s the owner of Coffetarik, a shop with two locations on the East Side of St. Paul, one in the Indigenous Roots Cultural Center.

(credit: Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)

According to the charges, the girl was working at the coffee shop on July 7 and met with officers on July 10. She told them Delariva asked her if she had a boyfriend, and she said she did.

The complaint states the conversation turned sexual, which made her uncomfortable. She later went into the back room of the shop, he allegedly followed her and began touching her breasts and vagina over her clothing. She said she froze with fear, too frightened to say anything. He eventually began touching her in a sexual nature under her clothing.

The complaint states when the incident was over, she went back to the front counter and he followed. He asked her if she was OK, and she said she was. He then said, “I would never wanna hurt you.”

The girl started washing items in the sink, and Delarita approached her and kissed her, saying, “We don’t need to tell anyone or the police what happened – a trial would be such a mess and long.”

Delarita was on scene at the time and was arrested. He called the allegations “bull****” and said he wanted to speak to his lawyer.

He told police she came to work at the coffee shop and her first day was July 7. He said she told him she had a boyfriend, and he asked her if they had sex. She told him they had tried. Delarita told police he told the girl she needed to understand how her body worked and how to take care of it. He said he talked to her about menstruation, and told her she needed to learn about the sensitive parts of her body.

The complaint states she told him she wanted to learn about things with her boyfriend. Delarita then went back and started touching her body. He said she then started touching him, and he told her to stop because it wasn’t right and he wanted to protect her.

Delarita told police he apologized to her because he knew he had done something wrong, and knew she was 15. He admitted he made a mistake, and said the girl was very pretty and she was flirting. Delarita has prior convictions for solicitation, inducement and promotion of prostitution in Hennepin County.

The Indigenous Roots Cultural Center’s Co-Founder and Co-Director, Mary Anne Quiroz, called police after learning of the assault.

She said in a statement, “Eduardo’s actions and behaviors are toxic to our community and should be stopped. We hope that justice is served and this man can no longer threaten or harm anyone in our community.”

Police say based on the evidence, it’s possible there are more victims. They also want to make clear that a victim’s status as a citizen is irrelevant to the case.

“Regardless of what their life circumstances are, if you are a victim of a crime we are here to help you and we want you to come forward,” said Steve Linders, St. Paul Police spokesman.

AVON, Minn. (WCCO) – An Avon Community Church pastor has been charged with having a sexual relationship with a parishioner during ongoing counseling sessions.

Charles Norman Pelkey, 49, of Albany, turned himself in to Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies Monday and was then charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony.

According to information the Avon Police Department received, Pelkey was allegedly having a sexual relationship with a parishioner of Avon Community Church.

Pelkey provided religious and spiritual advice, family counseling, marriage counseling, and individual counseling as part of his ministerial duties.

In November 2017, according to police, a parishioner sought religious and spiritual guidance from Pelkey, and a sexual relationship began in March 2018. The relationship allegedly continued until May.

Pelkey continued to provide the parishioner religious and marital guidance for the duration of the sexual relationship, police said.

Minnesota law prohibits a member of the clergy from engaging in a sexual act during the course of a meeting in which the victim sought or received religious or spiritual advice, aid, or comfort from the suspect in private or during a period of time in which the victim was meeting on an ongoing basis with the suspect to seek or receive religious or spiritual advice, aid, or comfort in private. Consent is not a defense.

If convicted of the criminal sexual conduct charge, Pekley faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and/or a fine of $30,000.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chinese billionaire Liu Qiangdong, also known as Richard Liu, the founder of the Beijing-based e-commerce site JD.com, was arrested in Minneapolis on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct, jail records show.

Liu, 45, was arrested late Friday night and released Saturday afternoon pending possible criminal charges, Hennepin County Jail records show. The jail records don’t provide details of the alleged incident.

Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said Sunday that he couldn’t provide any details because the investigation is considered active. He declined to say where in Minneapolis Liu was arrested or what Liu was accused of doing.

Minnesota law defines five degrees of criminal sexual misconduct, ranging from a gross misdemeanor to felonies, covering a broad array of conduct ranging from nonconsensual touching to violent assaults with injuries. The jail records for Liu don’t indicate a degree.

JD.com, the main rival to Alibaba Group, said in a statement posted Sunday on the Chinese social media site Weibo that Liu was falsely accused while in the U.S. on a business trip, but that police investigators found no misconduct and that he would continue his journey as planned.

“We will take the necessary legal action against false reporting or rumors,” the company said.

Liu recently tried to distance himself from a sexual assault allegations against a guest at a 2015 party at Liu’s penthouse in Australia. Liu was not charged or accused of wrongdoing, but Australian media reported he tried unsuccessfully to get a court to prevent the release of his name in that case. The guest was convicted.

In June, Google said it would invest $550 million in JD.com. The investment reflected an effort by the U.S. tech company to expand its reach into Asian e-commerce.

JD.com is China’s second-largest e-commerce company after Alibaba. Among its other investors is Chinese internet gaming and social media giant Tencent Holdings, the developer of the WeChat messenger app and a major rival of Alibaba, and U.S. retailer Walmart Inc.

(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A former middle school band teacher has been charged with criminal sexual conduct after it was discovered he had been engaging in sexual behavior with a 15-year-old student.

According to the complaint, Howard Lake Waverly Winstead High School Principal Jason Mix reported to police Sept. 11 that the victim admitted to kissing Andrew Rosevold, 30, and to carrying on a conversation over Snapchat for several weeks. Mix said the victim told him the sexual activity began at the school and was mutual.

Police obtained the victim’s phone with permission from her parents and found the victim had saved her conversations on Snapchat. Police determined the messages were flirtatious and sexual in nature.

Authorities also discovered messages from Rosevold that directed the victim to “say we never did anything inappropriate” and “only my trying to help you with school, friends, homework, etc.”

Police executed a search warrant at Rosevold’s Elk River home on Sept. 18 where they found a USB drive in his bedroom containing videos showing body parts of several other underage girls. Four of the videos showed Rosevold and the victim kissing, hugging and touching. They all appeared to have been taken at the Howard Lake school.

Superintendent Brad Sellner released the following statement:

“The School District was made aware that criminal charges were filed against Andrew Rosevold, who recently resigned his position as the School District’s Middle School Band Instructor. We take the safety and security of our students very seriously and are cooperating fully with law enforcement in its investigation.”

Rosevold has been charged with four felony counts of criminal sexual conduct and is currently in custody in Wright County.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Twin Cities Lyft driver is accused of touching a passenger as she was falling asleep in the car.

Ahmed Tawane Abdi, 39, of Burnsville, was charged via summons Thursday with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony, in connection to a Lyft ride he gave a year ago August.

In a statement Friday, the rideshare company described the incident as “horrific,” adding that Abdi was banned from the platform as soon as the company learned of the accusation.

According to a criminal complaint, Abdi picked up a man and a woman from a Minneapolis bar in the early morning hours of Aug. 5, 2017. The woman told police that on the way to their destination in New Brighton, Abdi touched her under her underwear as she began to fall asleep in the front passenger seat.

She texted her companion, telling him to call 911. When he didn’t immediately do it, she did it herself. After she was dropped off, she spoke with officers and went to the hospital for a forensic nurse examination.

On Aug. 7, 2017, police spoke with Abdi and collected DNA samples, the complaint states. He told officers he made unintentional contact with the woman, noting it was strange that she sat in the front seat. When asked if his hand accidentally went up the woman’s leg, Abdi said no.

An examination of the woman’s underwear found DNA matching Abdi’s, the complaint states. It’s unclear why officials waited a year to charge him with a crime.

If convicted of the criminal sexual conduct charge, Abdi faces 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 32-year-old Twin Cities man is facing charges after he allegedly tried to have sex with a woman while she slept. Additionally, investigators say he took video of the woman, and took videos of other women, who didn’t know they were being recorded.

Jeffrey Eldred, of Shoreview, is charged with one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, court documents filed in Ramsey County show.

According to a criminal complaint, a woman told police that she met Eldred on Tinder and went to his home on Nov. 3. They drank wine and kissed in his bed. Because the woman had been drinking, she decided to stay the night, during which she said Eldred tried to have sex with her at least 10 times, despite her repeatedly telling him no. She also woke up once to Eldred putting his genitals in her face.

In the morning, she asked to use his computer. On the device, she saw about 40 videos of what appeared to be Eldred putting his penis in the mouths and vaginas of sleeping women. Concerned, the woman took a photo of the videos, which she later showed to police, fearing about what Eldred might do with the footage.

On Nov. 21, police executed a search warrant at Eldred’s home, the complaint states. Investigators looked at his cell phone, which contained a video of the woman who called police, as well as several videos of another woman, who proved to be someone Eldred dated off-and-on over the past year.

Eldred told police that he and the woman he was dating would get drunk and take videos. When police contacted the woman, however, she said she never agreed to let him take videos of her asleep. “Who f—ing does that,” she told police, the complaint states. “That’s so f—ed up.”

Eldred also told police that he took videos of a woman from New York, whose name he couldn’t remember. Police say they are trying to contact all the women in the videos.

Police arrested Eldred after he bought a new phone to contact the woman he had been seeing. In the phone call, which police recorded, he denied raping anyone but did apologize to the woman for recording one video of him having sex with her.

If convicted of the criminal sexual conduct charge, Eldred faces a maximum sentence of 7 and-a-half years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A former Columbia Heights teacher is facing charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage boy and recorded the assaults on video.

Thirty-two-year-old Daniel Laskowski of Maple Grove now faces four felony charges, including criminal sexual conduct.

Last Friday, police say a teenage boy came to them with disturbing allegations. The teenager said Laskowski, his former middle school teacher and football coach, assaulted him and told him they could make $250,000 if they recorded a pornographic video together.

“We didn’t see a background or pattern of this and that’s alarming. As a teacher and as a coach, he’s got contact with a lot of students. More so on the coaching end,” Captain Adam Lindquist of Maple Grove police said.

The criminal complaint says Laskowski served the boy alcohol and assaulted the teenager two different times, once when the boy was 15 and then again when he was 16.

On both occasions, Laskowski allegedly filmed the encounters. He told the teenager he had contacts in Europe who would buy the video for $250,000 and they could split the money.

The criminal complaint states that after Laskowski contacted the teenager on SnapChat about making a third video, the boy’s mom found out and went to police.

Police arrested Laskowski and seized his electronics, which are undergoing analysis. Laskowski is currently in the Hennepin County Jail, with his bail set at $500,000.

Police said they aren’t yet sure if Laskowski actually sent the videos to other people. They said they are also investigating whether or not there were other victims.

“This young man looked up to this guy as a father figure. And when I first read it I was at a loss for words that this was a horrific thing for him and his family to go through,” said Lindquist.

At his first court appearance Thursday, bail was set at $300,000 with conditions and $500,000 without. His next court appearance is set for Feb. 14, 2019.

The Columbia Heights school district said he worked as a social studies teacher and coach from 2012 to 2017, when he resigned from his teaching position.

If convicted of the criminal sexual conduct charges, he faces decades in prison.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A northern Minnesota police officer is accused of repeatedly raping a teenager and using his position as a cop to take advantage.

(credit: Roseau County)

Twenty-nine-year-old Joshua Demmerly, an officer with the Warroad Police Department, is charged with third-degree sexual conduct, stalking and kidnapping, court documents filed in Roseau County show.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim accused Demmerly sexually of assault several times when the victim was 16 and 17 years old. He would allegedly give the victim and other teens alcohol.

The victim said that Demmerly would use friend-tracking devices to follow the teenager via phone. Sometimes, he would pull the teenager over on the side of the road to kiss the victim.

Once, the victim alleges that Demmerly took them from a group of people, made them get in the back of his squad car and drove off. While doing so, he turned off his squad camera and had his emergency lights on.

The victim said that Demmerly told them they were being investigated by authorities, claiming that the only way to dodge a search warrant was to spend more time with him.

The victim, who is now 18, told police that when they tried to avoid Demmerly, he would text and call them repeatedly. He would send photos of him holding a gun to his head, threatening suicide if they didn’t see him.

Demmerly allegedly tried to kiss the teenager as recently as last month, the criminal complaint states.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says Demmerly was arrested Tuesday and made his first court appearance Thursday morning. He is currently in the Roseau County Jail.

If convicted of the three charges, he faces decades behind bars.

The BCA is encouraging any other possible victims to call its tipline at 1-877-996-6222.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Officials in southern Minnesota say a 31-year-old Rochester man was arrested this week following allegations he sexually abused two teen girls.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office says the man was arrested Wednesday following an investigation into two reports of criminal sexual conduct.

The first report involved inappropriate touching of a 14-year-old girl during a soccer training session at Dover-Eyota High School in December.

The second report involved the alleged rape and sexual assault of another 14-year-old girl at the man’s home between July 2016 and December 2017. The man met the girl through soccer-related activities, the sheriff’s office says.

The man is being held in jail pending formal charges. Officials say he is slated to make his first court appearance Friday.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 31-year-old soccer coach in southern Minnesota is accused of criminal sexual activity involving two teenage girls.

Dustin Beckman, of Rochester, is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (position of authority), one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct (position of authority) and one count of possessing child pornography, court documents filed this week in Olmsted County show.

According to a criminal complaint, a 14-year-old girl whom Beckman coached reported to investigators that Beckman touched her inappropriately.

Later, another teenager whom Beckman coached reported to authorities that he had a sexual relationship with her, starting when she was 15-years-old and Beckman was 30. The girl told police that Beckman considered her his “girlfriend,” the complaint states.

In May, investigators executed a search warrant on Beckman’s home and seized two phones on which child pornography was found.

Beckman was arrested Wednesday and booked into the county jail.

If convicted of all charges, Beckman faces decades in prison. His first court appearance was slated for Friday.

According to Winona Daily News, Beckman has coached for many schools in the Winona-Rochester area, including Winona Senior High, Dover-Eyota High School, Rochester Community and Technical College and Winona State.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – University of Minnesota officials say two student athletes have been suspended from all team activity pending further investigation.

Two students believed to members of the Gophers wrestling team were arrested Saturday on suspicion of criminal sexual misconduct.

“We are aware of a situation involving two of our student athletes and are in the process of gathering more information,” a statement released by the U of M Athletic Department reads. “These students have been suspended from all team activity pending further information. Federal and state law precludes any further details at this time.”

The men, ages 19 and 21, were booked into the Hennepin County Jail late Saturday night. Their names and ages match those of two men on the Gophers wrestling roster on the team’s website.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Forensic test results gave powerful DNA evidence that Kenneth Clark is guilty of committing sexual assault in 2012, the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office said.

The office said Clark was charged in 2012 after evidence indicated he forced a woman into sexual conduct in his cab that November. Although police promptly responded, the office says miscommunication between police and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension lab caused a delay in the investigation.

The DNA test kits used in this case are part of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grants introduced in 2016.

The victim is a grandmother who was contacted in 2016 by an investigator with the initiative, the office says. She wanted to proceed with the investigation and on Thursday June 20, Clark was found guilty based on the “newly discovered powerful DNA evidence,” the office said.

Clark faces a sentencing guideline of 12 years in prison, but the date is yet to be determined.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Police in Paynesville say a man facing a criminal sexual conduct charge is missing.

According to police, Steven Row, 50, was last seen on May 23 at his residence in Paynesville. Neighbors said Row left in his work truck, which is a blue 2005 Chevrolet 2500HD with the Minnesota license plate MAE592.

Row currently has a warrant for his arrest on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Police say it appears he has been searching information on suicide.

Anyone with information on Row’s location should call Paynesville police at 320-243-3434.