An 18-year-old man has been charged in an alleged sexual assault of a student at a Mankato school earlier this month.
Abdirahman Jama Samatara of North Mankato has been charged with gross misdemeanor counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving non-consensual contact and indecent exposure or lewdness in the presence of a minor under the age of 16.
The charges filed in Blue Earth County District Court state that an officer met with the dean of students at a school in Mankato about an incident that occurred on March 6.
The victim, who is a minor, reported that when she left a classroom to use the bathroom, Samatara exited the same classroom soon after and waited outside the closed door until the victim returned.
Once the victim returned, Samatara put his hand out and grabbed the victim’s arm, spun her around, and grabbed the victim in a sexual manner and also thrust himself against the victim. The victim tried to pull away from Samatara during the incident, the charges say.
School surveillance recorded the incident and corroborated the facts as described.
The student’s mother said the girl initially didn’t want to tell her what happened because she didn’t want to cause her mother fear or anxiety. The child’s mother expressed to the officer that she had “real” safety concerns, and that her daughter was “too shook up” to return to school.
The specific school location is not listed in the complaint, which also does not state whether Samatara is a student at the school. Mankato Area Public Schools ISD 77 did not respond to an email request for comment and clarification in time for this report. A report from The Mankato Free Press claims the alleged assault took place at Mankato West High School.
There is no booking photo available of Samatara because he’s been charged by summons, as opposed to an arrest warrant, and has not been booked into custody at this time.
No future court date for Samatara was immediately available on the county court calendar at the time of this report.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
