Northfield Man Sentenced to Jail for Sexually Touching Female Relative

A 61-year-old Northfield man will spend 90 days in Rice County Jail after being sentenced last week for providing alcohol to and sexually touching a female relative, who is a minor.

Richard Allen Wierson was sentenced for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony, and furnishing liquor to a minor, a gross misdemeanor, which he pleaded guilty to in May. With the plea, the most serious charge—a third-degree criminal sexual charge—was dropped.

Wierson received an 18-month prison sentence, but Rice County Judge John T. Cajacob stayed the sentence for five years as long as Wierson doesn’t violate his five-year supervised probation. He must also pay a $600 fine. Wierson was also sentenced to 365 days in Rice County Jail for the furnishing charge—275 days were stayed for two years. He’s credited with three days served.

Wierson must register as a predatory offender, have no contact with the victim and have no contact with anyone under the age of 18. He must also attend a sex offender program, not possess any pornography and have no access to the Internet without approval. 

According to a criminal complaint filed with Rice County District Court, on Dec. 3, 2012, Wierson allegedly fondled the girl’s breasts, vagina and butt, and tried to pull her pants off after she consumed two beers that he provided. The girl told police that she told the man no several times. She was able to get away from the man.

Wierson later apologized to the girl and said he didn’t want to be known as a pedophile, according to the complaint. He told the girl not to tell anyone of the incident, the charges say.

When interviewed by , Wierson initially denied touching the girl, but later admitted that he did, only not in a sexual way. He said it was strictly a “scientific maneuver” and denied touching the girl below the waist. The man told police he thought the girl was OK with the touching but stopped after he realized she was not, the complaint says.

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