Crime & Safety

Prosecutors Charge Columbia Heights Man with Groping Girl at Fridley Wal-Mart

Nathan Williams Charles Jones faces one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The for allegedly at the was charged Tuesday with one count of criminal sexual conduct, according to media reports.

Anoka County Attorney's Office filed a single charge of second-degree criminal sexual conduct against Nathan Williams Charles Jones, 29, Tuesday, according to KARE 11:

Bail for Jones was set Tuesday at $175,000 without conditions, and $100,000 with the condition that Jones have no contact with the alleged victim, her family or any unsupervised contact with minors.

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Jones' next court date is Feb. 1.

The criminal complaint claims that Jones "touched the buttocks of the young girl," according to KARE11.

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According to Minnesota Public Radio:

The criminal complaint alleges Jones told the girl "Excuse me," after the incident and then walked away.

The complaint says an investigation found Jones "had a prior incident in a Target store where he was alleged to have touched a female's buttocks and said 'excuse me,' and then left the store without a purchase."

Jones has two previous convictions for indecent exposure, according to the complaint.

Authorities have said that Wal-Mart store cameras caught the suspect before, during and after the alleged incident, but only released still images of the suspect leaving the store. 

Tips led law enforcement to Jones' house in Columbia Heights, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported:

While searching his house, sheriff's officials found "a dark knit cap with flames on it," matching the hat the suspect wore in the video.


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