Mounds View sex offender accused of luring a teen

A 33-year-old sex offender is accused of luring a 16-year-old girl to his apartment.

Nathaniel Lee Betzler was charged Friday with possession of child pornography and depriving another of parental rights.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the 16-year-old allegedly met Betzler online, told him she was having trouble at home and he offered her a place to stay. Police found the girl at his Mounds View apartment Nov. 19.

Court records show that Betzler was convicted of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Anoka County in 1998 and third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Sherburne County in 2007.

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According to a criminal complaint, police found seven photos of the teen on Betzler's phone - one of her face and six of naked parts of her body.

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Information from:

St. Paul Pioneer Press

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)