La Crescent man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing mentally disabled woman receives sentence

CALEDONIA — A 66-year-old La Crescent man accused of repeatedly abusing a mentally disabled 18-year-old woman starting when she was 13 has been sentenced in Houston County District Court.

David Laverne Twite was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of stalking, all felonies.

In April, Twite pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced on August 7 to two years in prison, suspended for 10 years. Twite will be supervised by the probation service during those 10 years.

According to the criminal complaint, Twite was accused of repeatedly assaulting the now-adult woman over a five-year period, beginning when she was 13.

The woman is considered mentally retarded, according to Minnesota Statute, and has mild to moderate cognitive developmental disability and speech and language impairment. When she turned 18, an adult guardianship was granted in Dakota County.

The woman’s mother reported the assault to La Crescent police on April 22, 2022.

Most of the alleged sexual assaults occurred in Dakota County, but one incident occurred at the man’s La Crescent apartment, the criminal complaint said.

Police found several sexually explicit text messages and notes between Twite and the woman on her cell phone.

Twite denied sexually assaulting the woman during a police interview on May 10, 2022, but did say he accidentally touched her inappropriately during the wrestling match, the complaint said.

The criminal complaint states that on November 2, 2022, an investigator learned that Twite’s girlfriend had contacted the woman’s mother to say that Twite was offering the mother $10,000 to “drop the charges.”

When the investigator went to question Twite about the bribe in his apartment, he saw the investigator and slammed his door shut, refusing to come out, the complaint said.

People who are dealing with sexual exploitation can call the crisis line 24 hours a day at 507-289-0636. There they will speak to someone who can refer them to help.

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