Polk County (trfnews.i234.me) – A Thief River Falls man working as a restaurant general manager in Mentor, Minnesota, is facing felony sex charges after allegedly accepting a sexual act from a 14-year-old employee in exchange for a vape pen.
Francisco Arellano, 37, has been charged with first-degree and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The first-degree charge carries a mandatory 12-year minimum sentence.
The alleged incident occurred in April 2024, but the case was filed in June 2025 after the girl told police she performed a sex act for Arellano during a shift. Surveillance footage supports her account. Arellano later allegedly placed the vape under the front counter for her to retrieve.
Arellano posted $2,000 cash bail shortly after his arrest. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 29 in Polk County.
He reportedly gave conflicting statements during questioning and claimed the girl initiated the sexual contact, though she told police he knew her age and had made inappropriate comments to her previously.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.