May 13, 2021
NEW ULM A jury trial for a 19-year-old Mankato man accused of three counts of criminal sexual conduct at the New Ulm Econo Lodge last August began in Brown County District Court Tuesday. Jury selection was held and a jury of seven women and five men was seated.
Malachi H. Rodriguez, 408 W. 7th St., Mankato, faces felony third and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charges plus a gross misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.
According to the complaint, New Ulm Police talked with a man Aug. 12, 2020, who said his daughter said she was sexually assaulted by Rodriguez on Aug. 8, 2020, at the Econo Lodge. The man said his daughter initially didn’t want to tell anyone about the assault because she was afraid about spoiling a family wedding in New Ulm.