Man accused of sex assault of child

Authorities say an Owatonna man on the run after sexually assaulting a child has been extradited from a jail in Iowa after being caught at a rest stop along Interstate 35.

Jose Emmanuel Galvan Colmenero, 40, has been charged with two counts of felony first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He remains in custody in lieu of $35,000 conditional bond and is scheduled to make his initial appearance Thursday in Steele County District Court.

The charges stem from an alleged incident early Aug. 20, when police were called to a home in northwest Owatonna for a report of a sexual assault.

According to the criminal complaint, Colmenero was seen on a ladder leading up to the child’s bed. When he left the room, the victim told another adult that Colmenero had touched her inappropriately, including digitally penetrating her.

When the adult confronted Colmenero, he initially said the child was lying. When physical evidence was found, the adult called police, the report says.

Before officers arrived, Colmenero allegedly took a handgun and the keys to a vehicle, and said, “they’ll never take me alive – I’ll be dead.”

The victim told a second adult that Colmenero had inappropriately touched her about two months ago, rubbing her buttocks under her clothing, the complaint says. The child said she pretended to be asleep.

Detectives found the SUV using its in-vehicle security system; it was parked at a rest stop about 100 miles south of Owatonna. The local sheriff’s office sent deputies who found Colmenero inside the vehicle. The gun was under the driver’s seat; he reportedly had loose rounds in his pocket.

According to the court document, Colmenero told a detective he’d been drinking, went into the girl’s room and “touched her.” When asked for specifics, he allegedly said he “probably” penetrated her with his fingers.

If convicted, the charges carry a maximum penalty of no less than 12 years in prison, a $40,000 fine, or both.