Rochester man pleads guilty in 2021 sexual assault case

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man pleaded guilty on what would have been the first day of his sexual assault trial.

Gerald Morocco Thompson Sr., 44, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of 5th-degree criminal sexual conduct with a woman dating back to January of 2021.

According to Thompson’s plea agreement, he faces a recommended sentence of 10 days in jail, two years on probation, and may not have contact with the victim.

His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 11.

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(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man is scheduled to stand trial in October on charges of sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman in January of 2021.

Gerald Morocco Thompson Sr. faces a charge each of 3rd-degree criminal sexual conduct–victim mentally impaired/helpless; 4th-degree criminal sexual conduct–victim mentally impaired/helpless; and 5th-degree criminal sexual conduct–nonconsensual sexual contact.

According to court documents, Thompson Sr. was accused of approaching a woman after she went into a bedroom, locking the door, and sexually assaulting her.

Thompson Sr.’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13, with a jury trial scheduled to begin Oct. 23.

Thompson Sr. appeared in Olmsted County Court Monday, Sept. 25, for a motion hearing after his defense filed several motions including the following: attempting to prevent the state from referring to the alleged victim as an alleged victim or from calling Thompson Sr. a suspect/defendant; stopping the state from referring to the alleged victim as having been mentally impaired or helpless despite her alleged intoxication; blocking as Snapchat data including messages about The State vs. Khalil, a MN Supreme Court case concerning the definition of mental incapacitation in criminal sexual conduct cases involving alcohol, from evidence.

Thompson Sr. was convicted of 3rd-degree assault in Olmsted County in 2017 — taking an Alford plea — and was released from probation in July of 2022, according to Minnesota Court Records Online.