A 22-year-old suspect appeared in Mower County Third Judicial District Court Monday on charges of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree.

According to the Austin Police Department, the man was picked up Sunday at his Austin residence without incident.

A 20-year-old Austin woman told police she was sexually assaulted by the man on grass along the Mill Pond Pathway in Horace Austin Park near the Austin Utilities facilities east of the Austin Public Library.

The area is partially secluded by tall trees and bushes as the walking path curves toward a bridge over the Cedar River.

According to the woman's account, she met the suspect at the Hey, Rube bar Saturday evening. After leaving the bar, the pair went to Trader's Exchange, where they visited and had drinks before deciding at the man's suggestion to go for a walk in Horace Austin Park, according to police.

They walked to the secluded spot, where the couple sat on the grass, talked and kissed and then the assault allegedly took place despite the woman's protests, according to police.

A passerby allegedly told the pair to put on their clothes because of other walkers through the park, according to police reports.

The man left the area and told the woman he was returning to the Trader's Exchange bar and the alleged victim dressed and made her way to a telephone where she called a female friend and told her what happened, according to police.

Although the woman did not originally know the man's last name, she had his telephone number and furnished it to police.

When questioned, the man denied forcibly having sex with the woman, police said.

He was arrested and held in the Mower County Jail until his court appearance Monday.

Meth lab raid

LYLE -- The Mower County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies raided a methamphetamine laboratory Friday night in Lyle.

Five people were arrested and held in the Mower County Jail before their first appearances in Mower County Third Judicial District Court Monday afternoon.

A Mower County Sheriff's deputy received an anonymous tip from a citizen detailing what he suspected was a meth lab in the basement of a house at 107 Pine Street in Lyle or across the street from the Lyle City Park and Lyle Elementary School.

The Mower County Sheriff's Office obtained a "no knock" warrant and enlisted the aid of the Austin, Adams and Grand Meadow police departments. The five people were arrested at the scene early Friday morning.

Appearing in court were residents at the 107 Pine Street address, Deverne Anderson, 51, and Rodney Ross, 34, plus Dana Plotts, 23, Timothy Joblinske, 36 and Misti Lynn Ricke, 20.

All are now awaiting formal arraignment on various controlled substance violations. Because of the quantity of the materials and the items, such as plastic baggies, found at the scene, sale and distribution charges are also expected.

According to Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, the case began when a deputy received an anonymous letter from a subject who informed the lawman "people are cooking meth in a basement at a Lyle house."

The letter arrived late Thursday evening and the warrant was obtained. The raid took place early Friday and netted lawmen evidence of the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Two specially trained technicians for dealing with methamphetamine

laboratory discoveries -- both Austin Police Department officers -- were a part of the seizure of over 20 items from the basement at the Lyle residence.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com