Lonsdale Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting Child Younger Than 13

A Lonsdale man is in Rice County Jail on charges of sexually assaulting a child who is younger than 13 years old.

Brandon Lee Taylor, 18, is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct—penetration or contact with a victim under the age of 13. This felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or a $40,000 fine.

Taylor is also charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct—engaging in sexual contact with a victim under 16 years of age with whom he had a significant relationship. This felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and/or a $35,000 fine.

According to a criminal complaint filed with Rice County District Court:

The victim told investigators that Taylor inappropriately touched them several times between June 24 and June 27, 2012.

Editor's note: Them is used instead of boy or girl to protect the identity of the victim.

When questioned by police, Taylor said the victim crawled into Taylor's bed and started touching Taylor first and that Taylor thought he was "dreaming and thought it was girlfriend," charges allege. Taylor said once he realized it was the child, he pushed the child away.

"I must have touched (the child)," Taylor later said, saying he was "half out of it" and if he were fully awake it wouldn't have happened, according to the complaint.

Taylor later told police that he penetrated the victim for about 20 seconds but stopped once he realized it wasn't his girlfriend. He later told police that he knew it was the child that he was engaging in sexual contact with and not his girlfriend.

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