Woman says local man raped her

An Austin man is in Mower County jail on charges of rape.

Randal Jerome Bennett, 46, faces two charges: first-degree criminal sexual conduct by penetration and third-degree criminal sexual conduct by force or coercion, both felonies. The maximum sentence Bennett could face is 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine.

Police arrested Bennett after the victim reported the alleged rape on the night of May 16. She told police she rode her bike to a party at Bennett’s house and had a few beers. According to the court complaint, Bennett locked the doors and would not let the victim leave after everybody else had left. The victim added that Bennett’s children, however, were home at the time.

According to the complaint, Bennett picked up the victim, threw her on a bed and had sex with her. When police asked Bennett who was at his house that night, he initially did not mention the victim, according to the complaint. However, police asked him again and Bennett mentioned that the victim was there and the two had consensual sex. Police photographed bruises on the victim’s thigh, shin and forehead, the complaint adds. Police took the victim to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a sexual assault examination.

Bennett’s next court date is set for May 31.

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