Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Goodridge man is facing a sex crime charge.
The report involves a ride home after a Christmas party, according to court records.
Blake Tearle Amorim Athay, 27, of Goodridge, is charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Goodridge is in Pennington County, Minnesota.
The criminal complaint was filed Feb. 9.
The incident described in the complaint dates back to Dec. 26.
What the complaint says
According to the complaint, Athay attended a Christmas party and became drunk.
Other guests decided he needed to go home.
A sober young woman offered to drive him.
A male passenger also rode in the car, the complaint states.
As the woman drove, Athay allegedly tried to grab her hand.
The complaint says he also reached for other parts of her body.
The woman told him to stop.
The male passenger also told him to stop, according to the complaint.
The passenger pulled Athay’s arm away from the driver, the complaint says.
Despite those efforts, the complaint alleges Athay continued unwanted sexual touching.
After they reached his home, the woman dropped him off and left.
She locked the car doors right away, the complaint states.
She returned to the party and told her mother.
The mother reported the incident to law enforcement, according to the complaint.
Charge filed in February
A deputy followed up on the report on Dec. 26, the complaint states.
Another deputy had taken an initial report the day before.
The state later filed a charge under Minnesota’s fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct law.
You can read the law at the Minnesota Revisor’s Office website.
Criminal complaints describe allegations from investigators and witnesses.
Charges are not proof of guilt.
Athay is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
How to follow the case
Pennington County deputies handled the investigation.
More information may appear in public court records as the case moves forward.
Case details can be searched on Minnesota Court Records Online.
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
For general information about local law enforcement, visit the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office website.
If you or someone you know needs support, help is available 24/7.
Contact the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.