Suspect takes plea deal for sleeping with teen

Published 10:21 am Saturday, June 24, 2017

An 18-year-old Austin man pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement to allegedly sleeping with a 14-year-old this spring.

Bigelow

James Eric Bigelow, 18, appeared Friday in Mower County District Court on one count of felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to court records, someone spotted text messages between Bigelow and the victim indicating they’d had sex.

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When interviewed by police, the girl told police she and Bigelow had sex twice.

Bigelow initially denied the allegations, but then admitted they had sex twice, adding he thought she was 15.