Charges: MN Man Charged in Guns & Drug Case Raped Missing Girl

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man who was charged in a guns and drugs case is now accused of raping a missing teenage girl.

Read More: Police Seize Ghost Guns, Drugs from Rochester Home

He was formally charged in the criminal sexual conduct case on Thursday, two days after being arraigned in Olmsted County Court on the guns and drugs case. Both cases stem from an investigation regarding a missing 14-year-old girl.

The alleged sexual assaults and gun and drug bust happened on Saturday, July 20.

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The charges say Rochester Police went to the home of 35-year-old Donald Priester after receiving a report that he dropped the girl off at a park near his home, the criminal complaint says.

Officers did not find the girl at the park and went to question Priester, who told police he had been in contact with her and showed officers text messages, some of which were sexual in nature, the complaint says.

Priester complaint. Olmsted County Court

Priester then allowed officers into his home to confirm the missing girl was not there. While inside police found a handgun without a serial number, court documents say.

Priester complaint. Olmsted County Court

That led to the execution of a search warrant that uncovered two AR-15 rifles that also did not have serial numbers, a second handgun, ammunition and a variety of drugs, according to the complaint for the previous case.

14-Year-Old Girl Reports Being Raped at Gunpoint by Rochester Man Who's Charged in Guns and Drugs Case

After searching Priester’s home, officers found the missing girl at an undisclosed location in southeast Rochester. She told police she asked Priester to pick her up from western Wisconsin and drive her to Rochester.

While traveling to Rochester, the 14-year-old alleges they smoked marijuana and that Priester told her he had a gun and that they had to have sex. She said Priester raped her in the back of the vehicle then raped her a second time when the two got back to Rochester, the complaint says.

The teen girl said Priester held a gun to her head during the second sexual assault. The teen girl said both sexual assaults happened on the morning of July 20, the complaint states.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, resources are available for help. Visit the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) or dial 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673).

Priester is charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree assault.

His conditional bail was set at $100,000 and he’s due back in court next month.