Cottage Grove Man Gets 8 Years For Sexually Abusing 7-Year-Old Girl

STILLWATER, MN — More than 20 years after sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl, a Washington County man has been sentenced to just over eight years in prison (98 months), County Attorney Kevin Magnuson announced.

A person convicted of the same crime today would face a longer sentence, but courts must apply the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines in effect at the time the crime occurred.

On Aug. 1, Judge Helen Brosnahan denied Martin Zappa’s request for a departure from the sentencing guidelines and imposed the 98-month term, the presumptive sentence under Minnesota law at the time of the crime.

Zappa pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct as a jury trial was about to begin in March.

In addition to the prison term, he must register as a predatory offender for life. Restitution was reserved for 90 days.

The victim reported Zappa’s abuse in December 2021. Trauma often delays reporting, especially when the victim is a child and the abuser is a relative, neighbor, or family friend, the Washington County Attorney's Office noted.

The victim told investigators that Zappa, then about 40 years old and her neighbor, invited her into his home, groomed her extensively, and sexually abused her for more than three years.

The Cottage Grove Police Department investigated the case. As the trial began, Judge Brosnahan ruled that a woman Zappa was convicted of sexually assaulting in 1999 could testify about her abuse.

Assistant County Attorney Thomas Wedes prosecuted the case and said he hopes the sentence brings closure and justice for the victim after such a long wait.

"This case reminds us that victims of criminal sexual conduct sometimes take time to fully understand and process the trauma they have endured," Magnuson said.

"We know how difficult it is for victims to come forward and relive these horrible events. We are grateful for the victim’s courage in testifying. I also want to thank the trial team for their commitment and skill in preparing this case for trial."