Swimmer Enters Alford Plea For Child Sex Assault at Rochester Swimming Beach

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A man accused of sexually assaulting a child while swimming at a Rochester lake has entered a guilty plea. 

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Olmsted County Court records indicate the plea deal will be presented to the judge during a hearing on Monday. 

Charges were filed in the case in July of this year.

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46-Year-Old Man Enters Alford Plea in Child Sex Assault Case at Rochester Swimming Beach

46-year-old Valentin Madrigada Soto was charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. 

He is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl, described in the complaint as a six-year-old, while they were in the water at Foster-Arend Park.  

The criminal complaint in the case says the victim’s mother told Rochester police she was in a swimming area with her daughter, who was floating on a tube, and Soto, who was in deeper water than the young girl. 

She said she ran to her vehicle for two minutes and saw Soto holding her daughter’s tube when she returned. She also stated she overheard her daughter tell Soto, “I'm going to tell my mom and dad what you did.” 

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, resources are available for help. Visit the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) or dial 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).

The victim told her parents that Soto had touched her inappropriately while the two were in the swimming area. She also said Soto offered to give her money if she did not tell anyone, according to the complaint. 

She repeated a similar account of the incident during her interview on July 10, the complaint says. Soto denied touching the young girl when interviewed by investigators, according to the court document. 

Court records indicate Soto intends to enter an Alford plea to an amended fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge. An Alford plea means Soto does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is sufficient evidence for a conviction. 

The plea deal calls for a 180-day jail sentence.