WARNING! This story contains graphic material and may not be suitable for all readers.
POLK COUNTY -- Criminal charges of Class G Felony Third Degree Sexual Assault have been filed in Polk County Circuit Court against a 19-year-old Gully, MN man, Dalton K. Sawyer, following an investigation into a reported sexual assault in April 2018.
The criminal complaint filed against Sawyer on September 27, 2018, states that on April 22, 2018, shortly before 6p, a Polk County Deputy was dispatched regarding a report of a possible sexual assault.
The caller told Polk County Dispatch that the assault had occurred approximately 15 minutes prior to 9-1-1 call.
A Deputy arrived on scene a few minutes later and located Sawyer; advising Sawyer that he was there to investigate a possible sexual assault that had taken place on the property earlier that day. Sawyer responded by saying, “Nothing happened, she is only trying to get me in trouble.” Sawyer told the officer that he had spoken to the female who reported the alleged sexual assault, but that it was regarding some missing vape liquid and that he then returned to the property where officers located him.
When the officer spoke with the female who reported the sexual assault, she said that she was in her camper when Sawyer entered the camper along with her brother. She went on to tell the officer that her brother left the camper, after which Sawyer approached her and asked if she wanted to have sex.
According to the criminal complaint, the female went on to say that she told Sawyer multiple times that she did not want to have sex, however, he unbuttoned her pants and put his hands inside her clothes. Sawyer then licked her chest area and said, “you know you’ve wanted some of this for a while.”
The female also told the Deputy that she was very nervous and scared and continued to tell Sawyer no, but that he undressed her and himself and proceeded to penetrate her. After Sawyer was finished, the female said that she dressed herself and sat on some stairs to compose herself. She then told her parents what had happened.
The investigating Deputy was shown two stains on a couch which the female said were from Sawyer. The female also provided the officer with a towel that she said Sawyer had used to clean himself up. She said that she had also used the same towel to clean herself up following the assault.
Fabric from the couch was taken as evidence, along with the towel, and the female was taken to the Amery Regional Medical Center for a SART exam.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that when the investigating Deputy again met with Sawyer, he did not consent to a DNA swab, nor would he provide the officer with the clothing that he had been wearing at the time of the alleged assault.
While Deputies were speaking with Sawyer regarding the DNA swab, Sawyer allegedly changed his story, saying that he had actually masturbated in a bathroom at the property where the alleged assault occurred and that the female had collected the semen and was using it to frame him.
Around 4 hours later, a warrant was obtained for a sample of Sawyer’s DNA, however, Deputies were not able to locate Sawyer at the property where he had been earlier. They were able to locate Sawyer’s father, who called Sawyer. A Deputy was then able to speak with Sawyer via phone and explained that they had a warrant for a sample of Sawyer’s DNA, but that it was not an arrest warrant. Sawyer told the Deputy that he had already left Wisconsin, and was traveling home to Gully, MN. Sawyer also told the Deputy on the phone that he had no gas money and would not be returning.
A Deputy did reach Sawyer at least one more time by phone on that same date, according to the criminal complaint, to ensure that Sawyer understood what the warrant entailed, however, Sawyer told the Deputy that he was not willing to return or to meet with the investigating Deputies.
Online circuit court records show that Sawyer is scheduled to make an initial appearance on his charges in Polk County Circuit Court later this month.
A conviction for Class G Felony Third Degree Sexual Assault carries with it a possible maximum penalty of 10 years confinement in state prison, a maximum fine of $25,000, or both.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Oct 01, 2018 7:34 pm CDT
