Rochester Man Acquitted of Kidnapping, Sexual Assault Charges
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man accused of kidnapping and sexual assault has been acquitted of the most serious charges against him.
Jury Finds Sorenson Guilty of Terroristic Threats and Domestic Assault
Thirty-three-year-old Seth Tyler Sorenson went on trial in Olmsted County court this week on a long list of charges, including three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, felony and misdemeanor domestic assault, and felony terroristic threats. The jury found him guilty of felony terroristic threats and misdemeanor domestic assault but acquitted him of all the other charges.
Most Serious Charges Result in Acquittals
According to court documents, Sorenson was arrested in June after Rochester police investigated allegations of sexual assault made by a woman who was being treated in the emergency department at St. Marys Hospital. The criminal complaint indicates that the woman told police she had been beaten and sexually assaulted by Sorenson, who had allegedly been physically abusive toward her in the past.
Court Documents Describe Allegations of Physical and Sexual Violence
The charges alleged that Sorenson became violent after the woman declined his request to engage in sexual activity. She told police that he began beating her, tied her legs together, and continued physically assaulting and threatening her. The woman alleged that Sorenson struck her head with a closed fist hard enough that she briefly lost consciousness, shoved a finger into her eye, and strangled her to the point that she was gasping for air.
The criminal complaint also alleged that Sorenson sexually assaulted the woman while her legs were bound and he was on top of her.
READ MORE: Rochester Man Charged With Kidnapping, Assault, Sexual Assault
Investigators Observed the Evidence of Injuries to Woman
The court documents also state that investigators observed multiple visible injuries on different parts of the woman’s body, including red marks, abrasions, and bruises.
A sentencing hearing for Sorenson has not yet been scheduled.
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross
