Man faces minimum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual abuse

Published 10:28 am Tuesday, May 3, 2011

A 40-year-old Wells man faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty last month to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving two children.

Jose Luis Perales

Jose Luis Perales pleaded guilty in Faribault County District on April 18 to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under 13 and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim between 13 and 15. Both counts involved penetration.

The plea came as part of an agreement between Perales’ lawyer and the Faribault County Attorney’s Office.

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He initially faced four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, including fondling and intercourse with people ages 16 and younger.

Faribault County Attorney Troy Timmerman said under the agreement the sentence for the two counts will be served concurrently. He said additional charges are pending in Brown County, but noted the Faribault County plea agreement will not have any affect on those charges.

The agreement will also not have any affect on a potential civil commitment after the sentence is served, which at this time seems likely, Timmerman said.

Perales was arrested in February after he turned himself into the Wells Police Department with his wife. At that time, he told the officer, “he had done something horrible” and that he wanted to go to jail, according to court documents. He described himself as a “monster.”

Court reports state during a later interview with an officer, Perales reportedly admitted to the sexual abuse.

The brothers of one of the victims also told police the abuse had been going on for years.

Perales is expected to be sentenced in Faribault County District Court May 23.