A 66-year-old South St. Paul man is facing felony charges after an alleged lewd act in front of a child at Cherokee Park in St. Paul, according to Ramsey County prosecutors. The alleged conduct occurred on or about Sunday, and the case was charged at the felony level because of a prior, similar conviction within the last decade. The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court and reported by Limitless Media News, the man, identified in court records as John Andrew G., 66, of South St. Paul, faces two felony counts. The first is fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct for alleged masturbation or a lewd exhibition in the presence of a minor under 16. The second is indecent exposure in the presence of a minor with a previous qualifying conviction. Prosecutors allege he knew or had reason to know a child was present during the incident.
Charges and potential penalties
Under Minnesota law, fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct can be charged as a felony when the offense occurs within 10 years of a qualifying prior conviction. That enhanced charge carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine, under Minn. Stat. §609.3451. The state’s indecent-exposure statute allows felony penalties in cases involving minors or certain prior offenses, with a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, per §617.23.
What prosecutors allege
As outlined in the complaint and described by Limitless Media News, prosecutors say the defendant willfully exposed his private parts and engaged in open or gross lewdness while a child under 16 was present at Cherokee Park. The incident is alleged to have occurred within 10 years of a similar indecent-exposure conviction, a detail that prosecutors argue supports bringing the case as a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
Legal implications and next steps
If he is convicted of a qualifying felony, the defendant could be required to register as a predatory offender under Minnesota law. A House Research summary details which offenses trigger registration, along with typical reporting time frames and requirements. The complaint has been filed in Ramsey County District Court, and arraignment along with future hearings will be scheduled and listed on the court calendar. Authorities note that anyone with information related to the incident should contact local law enforcement, and emphasize that for now the case consists of allegations that will be tested through the judicial process.
