The lawyer for a 39-year-old Albert Lea man who faces two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a 12-year-old girl is questioning the statements his client and other witnesses made to police.

In Freeborn County District Court Monday, public defender Stephen Erickson, on behalf of Kikham Sayaphet, requested a contested hearing for his client where he will question those statements. The hearing must be within 28 days.

Erickson estimated it would last one hour.

Erickson also filed a motion to dismiss the charges for Sayaphet, who appeared with a Lao-speaking interpreter.

Sayaphet faces one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

He was charged earlier this month and remains in custody in the Freeborn County jail.

The incident reportedly took place at 513 Fourth St. in Albert Lea.

Reports state the alleged victim lives in Shakopee.

Reed Steven Nelson

Erickson also requested a contested hearing for Nelson, who is accused of threatening a group of people with a loaded gun and hitting one person over the head with a flashlight Nov. 24.

Nelson, 59, of Bricelyn, faces two counts of second-degree assault and one count of terroristic threats regarding the alleged incident.

In addition, Erickson filed a motion to dismiss the charges in this case.