Mahnomen Casino Case Brings Sexual Conduct Charge

Mahnomen (trfnews.i234.me) — A Waubun man faces a criminal sexual conduct charge following an incident at Shooting Star Casino.

Anthony Ray Lague Jr., 39, is charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The gross misdemeanor charge alleges nonconsensual sexual contact.

The case is filed in Mahnomen County District Court as 44-CR-25-841.

Woman Reports Contact At Casino Deli

Law enforcement responded to Shooting Star Casino around 11:40 p.m.

The initial call involved a report of sexual harassment, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators spoke with a woman whose name is withheld from the public complaint.

She said she was standing in line at the casino deli when a man approached.

The woman alleged the man grabbed or slapped her buttocks.

She told investigators that she did not know the man.

The woman confronted him after the alleged contact, according to court records.

Casino security then escorted the man from the deli area.

The complaint says the man appeared intoxicated at the time.

Law enforcement later reviewed surveillance video from the casino.

The complaint says the video showed the woman standing in the deli line.

It then allegedly showed a man approach and slap her buttocks.

Investigators identified that man as Anthony Ray Lague Jr., according to prosecutors.

Police later attempted to contact Lague at his hotel room.

No one answered when officers tried to make contact, the complaint states.

Prosecutors charged Lague with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving nonconsensual sexual contact.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail.

It also carries a possible fine of up to $3,000.

Readers can review Minnesota Statute 609.3451 for fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Additional court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

The charge is an allegation and has not been proven in court.

Lague is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.