Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The child sex abuse charges against a former Kasson Police Officer are being consolidated into a single case that will be prosecuted in Rochester.

A Rice County Judge last week granted a change of venue in the case of 52-year-old Julio Baez, transferring the over 20 felony criminal sexual conduct charges against him in that county to Olmsted County Court where he currently faces three felony charges. Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem says three charges filed against Baez in Dodge County are also being shifted to Rochester, which he says may assist in the ongoing plea negotiations with the defendant.

The charges brought against Baez, which came to light after an unsuccessful suicide attempt last year, all involve the same victims. He is currently scheduled to appear at a plea hearing in Olmsted County Court on January 18th.

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