Man charged in alleged criminal sexual conduct at Fridley Walmart

Anoka County prosecutors charged a 29-year-old man with criminal sexual conduct Tuesday for allegedly groping an 11-year-old girl at a Walmart in Fridley.

Law enforcement officials said the store's surveillance cameras show Nathan William Charles Jones, of Columbia Heights, following the girl and her sister around the store and then touching the girl inappropriately while she stood next to her mother. The criminal complaint alleges Jones told the girl "Excuse me," after the incident and then walked away.

The complaint says an investigation found Jones "had a prior incident in a Target store where he was alleged to have touched a female's buttocks and said 'excuse me,' and then left the store without a purchase."

Jones has two previous convictions for indecent exposure, according to the complaint.

Law enforcement officials arrested Jones on Dec. 30 and searched his residence. They found a handwritten note "about the video surveillance systems at Wal-Mart" and several pieces of clothing that appeared to match what the suspect was wearing in the surveillance video.

Jones appeared in Anoka County District Court on Tuesday and was charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 1.

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