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.
fbusch@nujournal.com
COURTLAND An early morning March 10 traffic stop in Courtland by Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office deputies led to multiple drug and theft charges against two men and a woman.
Deja D. Padilla, 18, Montevideo, was charged with felony fifth-degree drug possession-not small amount of marijuana and felony possession of burglary or theft tools on March 11 in Brown County District Court. An initial court appearance was set for 8:30 a.m. March 23.
McKenzie M. Notch, 26, Granite Falls, was charged with felony second-degree drug sale 10 grams or more, a narcotic other than heroin within 90 days, third-degree drug possession 10 grams or more, fourth-degree drug sale and felony possession of burglary or theft tools. Bail was set at $40,000 without conditions, $15,000 with conditions in Nicollet County Court March 12.