Rochester man pleads guilty to fracturing, bruising woman’s ribs

Published 9:42 am Friday, November 7, 2014

A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to allegedly fracturing and bruising a woman’s ribs.

Scott Jerome Jakobson, 43, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault Thursday in Mower County court.

According to a court complaint, someone reported the assault to police on Sunday, Aug. 10, saying Jakobson allegedly beat the victim between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday at his RV at Jellystone Park Campground east of Austin. The victim told others she had a broken rib and later Jakobson had grabbed her by the throat and choked her multiple times.

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Jakobson also allegedly stomped on and kicked her, according to the complaint. He then allegedly threatened to kill her and tried to smother her when she cried out.

The victim escaped from the camper at about 6 a.m. when Jakobson allegedly passed out. She was later treated at Olmsted Medical Center for a fractured rib and bruised ribs on her right side. Rochester police also noted injuries on the victim’s side and neck.

The victim told police she was afraid to report Jakobson because she thought he would kill her.

Rochester police later arrested Jakobson and turned him over to Mower County deputies. According to the complaint, Jakobson told police he and the victim had rode around the campground arguing when she left to take a walk around midnight. He told police the victim allegedly came back to the camper at about 6 a.m. when he woke up and told him she was going to get him in trouble. He also said the victim had complained her side hurt.

Jakobson claimed he didn’t know what caused the victim pain. Deputies asked him about texts he sent the victim after the incident took place, and Jakobson said he had apologized before for the way he had acted over the past two years, but never apologized for specific acts against her. He also denied hitting, kicking, choking or threatening the victim and said even though he drank a lot of alcohol that night he could recall everything that happened.

Jakobson was previously convicted for domestic assault in 2013. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February.