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Registered sex offender charged in rape of Valleyfair employee

According to Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar, the attack appears to be random.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - A registered sex offender is charged with criminal sexual conduct and violating terms of his release after allegedly raping a Valleyfair employee near a facility that houses seasonal workers in what authorities are calling a random attack.

Scott County prosecutors say 26-year-old Austin Jeffrey Jones used force in wrapping a belt around the victim's neck and tightening it as he sexually assaulted her in the early morning hours of Aug. 7. A criminal complaint details how the victim's boyfriend was talking to her on the phone around 1 a.m. when she spotted a man leaning against a tree who appeared to need help. The victim's boyfriend heard her approach, then scream and say, "Ouch, that hurts!" before dropping her phone.

According to Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar, the attack appears to be random -- the victim did not know Jones and Jones had no connection to Valleyfair.

Scott County deputies responded to the SCALE Law Enforcement Training Center on Valley View Drive in Jordan, which Valleyfair spokesperson Kelsey Bailey confirms also supplies housing for seasonal workers at the amusement park.

Deputies found a cell phone on the ground near the victim's car, then heard a coughing sound from a swampy area near the dorm. The victim was laying on the ground in an unresponsive state with her pants and underwear pulled down, and a belt wrapped around her neck.

Her body was covered in dirt and grass, and her skin was scratched in a number of places. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment and a sexual assault test.

When asked to comment on the story, Bailey said, "associate safety is our top priority."

About a mile from the crime scene, Mdewakanton Fire personnel found a Dodge Durango with Austin Jones slumped over in the back. A records check showed he is a registered sex offender who was not in compliance with his parole officer. The clothing he was wearing matched the description given by the sexual assault victim.

Jones was unable to explain where he had been earlier when the assault took place. Deputies noticed scratches on his shoulder as he was being booked, and DNA samples taken from the belt around the victim's neck were a match with Jones' profile.

The defendant has a previous conviction for third-degree criminal sexual conduct that involved a juvenile female. That conviction resulted in Jones being classified as a registered sex offender.

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