Owatonna teen charged with rape

ELLENDALE — An Owatonna teenager was charged in Steele County District Court this week with allegedly raping an Ellendale girl last weekend.

According to court records, Cressa Thomas McCarren, 17, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, involving penetration or injury, and third-degree criminal sexual conduct, using force or coercion.

McCarren was charged in juvenile court, but because of the nature of the allegations, the proceedings are open to the public. An adult certification hearing has been slated for Jan. 18.

Court documents state McCarren had just started talking to the Ellendale girl online a week before the alleged incident. It was reportedly the first time the two had met. Reports did not state how old the girl is.

During an interview with Steele County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the girl reportedly stated McCarren had emailed her around 1 a.m. Dec. 10 to see if she wanted to hang out. He came to her house around 3 a.m.

Shortly after he arrived, the girl’s mother woke up, came downstairs and found the two sitting at the kitchen table.

The mother told her daughter the boy needed to leave and then went back up to bed. She told authorities she heard one set of footsteps come up the stairs about 15 minutes later.

According to the girl, the two “made out” while on the couch and then McCarren allegedly took the girl’s hand and put it down his pants.

The girl got up to go to the bathroom upstairs, where McCarren followed her. When she came out of the bathroom she reportedly went into the bedroom to grab something, and the boy allegedly pushed her onto the bed on her back and laid by her, making out.

After a few minutes, he “tore off” her jeans and then took his own pants off.

The girl reportedly “tried to get out from underneath him but he held her hands down by her sides with his knees.”

At one point, he put a pillow over her face, court documents state.

The girl told authorities she did not say anything “because she kind of gave up and she figured he wouldn’t hear her anyway.” She told police the boy was wearing a hearing aid in his right ear and had to repeat a lot of things to him when they talked.

The girl stated she suffered injuries from the incident and noted that McCarren reportedly told her she would regret it if she told anyone what happened.

When interviewed by authorities, McCarren reportedly stated he had gone over to the girl’s house and that the two watched TV and kissed a little and that nothing further happened.

McCarren is next scheduled to appear for a hearing at 1:15 p.m. Dec. 20.

 

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