Man charged with 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct

Published 2:20 pm Saturday, October 16, 2010

A 55-year-old Albert Lea man currently serving a prison sentence for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct — along with failing to register his new address as a predatory offender — was charged in Freeborn County District Court this week with a new criminal sexual conduct violation, this time alleging he assaulted and then raped a 14-year-old girl in November of 2009.

Joseph Jensen

Joseph Harry Jensen, who is in the middle of a prison sentence in Moose Lake, has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving penetration using force or coercion and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving personal injury.

The incident reportedly took place at the residence of Jensen’s friend, in a second-story apartment in downtown Albert Lea.

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Court documents state the alleged victim had run away from home and gone to the apartment looking for her friend, Jensen’s daughter. The friend was not there, but Jensen was.

Reports state the girl and Jensen allegedly smoked marijuana before Jensen started making inappropriate advances toward the girl.

He allegedly slapped and then punched the teenage girl before throwing her down on a couch and raping her, reports continue.

During an interview with an Albert Lea police detective in March about the alleged incident, Jensen reportedly admitted to knowing who the girl was and acknowledged that the girl may have come to the apartment looking for his daughter.

Court documents state Jensen was admitted to prison March 30 for failing to register as a predatory offender from a previous case, where he was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. That case also involved smoking marijuana and inappropriate behavior with a girl similar in age.

He is scheduled to be released on these offenses on Dec. 6.

Jensen’s new charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine. The second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.