Suspect sentenced for gross misdemeanor sexual conduct

Published 10:53 am Friday, May 31, 2013

An Austin man who was accused for sexually molesting a woman on May 16, 2012, was convicted of gross misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct.

Randal Jerome Bennett, 47, was convicted of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct Thursday in Mower County Court and sentenced to years’ supervised probation and 80 hours of community service. He was also fined $900.

The victim told police she rode her bike to a party at Bennett’s house and had a few beers. According to the court complaint, Bennett locked the doors and would not let the victim leave after everybody else had left. The victim added that Bennett’s children, however, were home at the time.

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The woman claimed Bennett picked her up, threw her on a bed and had sex with her. When police asked Bennett who was at his house that night, he initially did not mention the victim, according to the complaint. However, police asked him again and Bennett mentioned that the victim was there and the two had consensual sex. Police photographed bruises on the victim’s thigh, shin and forehead, the complaint adds.