Austin man pleads not guilty to criminal sexual conduct
A 62-year-old Austin man has been charged with several counts of criminal sexual conduct after allegedly molesting two girls when they were between the ages of 4 and 9.
Raul Francis Duenes pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct Feb. 10 in Mower County Court.
According to a court complaint, Duenes allegedly began interacting sexually with one of the girls when she was around 4 years old; the interactions continued for about five years. The other girl told police Duenes began touching her inappropriately when she was 7 or 8 years old, and the abuse continued for two years.
Court documents also indicate Duenes made the girls watch pornographic movies with him.
When questioned by police, Duenes said one of the girls “came on to him” first. He admitted to some of the alleged sexual encounters and said one of the girls might be lying to make it seem more serious than it was.
If convicted, Duenes could receive up to 30 years in prison and $40,000 in fines for the first-degree charges and up to 25 years in prison and $35,000 in fines for the second-degree charges.
He is due in court for a jury trial on June 20.