18-year-old accused of sexually assaulting teen

Published 10:36 am Friday, November 14, 2014

An 18-year-old Austin man is accused of having sex with a teenage girl between 13 and 15 years old.

Kai Backous pleaded not guilty to two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct Thursday in Mower County court. Both charges stipulate the victim was between 13 and 15 while the suspect was more than 24 months older.

According to a court complaint, the victim’s father reported Backous last month after he found online messages between the 18-year-old and the victim. The victim told police she allegedly slept with Backous on two separate occasions in October at his apartment near Riverland Community College, where she allegedly stayed overnight during one occasion.

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Backous denied having sex with the victim and said he knew the victim was middle school-aged, according to the complaint. He told police he only hung out with the victim and one of her friends once, and she once came to his apartment to watch a movie before the victim went to a friend’s house.

Backous will next appear in court in February. His bail has been set for $100,000.