Charges Come Down In Powderhorn Sex Assault
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Four teenage boys have been charged in connection with the sexual assaults that happened near Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery in connection with the sexual assault of a 45-year-old mother last week.
It is not clear which of the additional charges the other three boys face, but the charges include aggravated robbery, rape, attempted rape and kidnapping.
On Nov. 24, a mother was assaulted at Powderhorn Park while out cross-country skiing with her children. They were approached by a group of teenage boys, one of whom had a gun. One was wearing a hockey mask.
According to the charges, they ordered the family to get down in the snow so they could rob them, but the robbery eventually turned into a sexual assault as two of the teenagers molested the mother and threatened to assault her 10-year-old daughter. The mother yelled, "No, not my daughter," and the group fled the scene.
Shortly thereafter, an 18-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl were attacked in a nearby garage. A group of boys pulled a gun on them, ordered them to take off their clothes and took turns sexually assaulting them.
The defendant charged on Tuesday admitted to police that he had been involved in the sexual assault in the park, but denied being involved in the one that occurred in the garage. He had been arrested by authorities while at home.
In all, four boys, believed to be 14 and 15, have been taken into custody.
The mother assaulted in the park released a statement saying she is healing from the attack thanks to family and friends. Click here to read her full statement.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Bruce Hagevik Reports
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