UPDATE: Texas man sentenced to more than 30 years in Albert Lea sex abuse case

(ABC 6 News) – A former Albert Lea resident accused of sexually abusing two children from 2011 to 2015 was sentenced to a total of 366 months in prison Friday, Nov. 22.

David Bernard Suess, Sr. moved from Albert Lea to Lufkin, Texas and was taken into custody on several counts of criminal sexual conduct in April of 2023.

Suess Sr. remained in the Freeborn County Jail on $500,000 bail with no conditions, or $250,000 bail with conditions.

He received 600 days’ credit for time in jail since his April 2023 arrest.

In his July 2024 jury trial, Suess Sr. was found guilty of four counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct–penetration between 2011 and 2014, and one count of criminal sexual conduct–multiple acts over time involving the first alleged victim, who was about 7 years old in 2011 and about 10 in 2014.

Judge Christy Hormann sentenced Suess Sr. on 5 of the 6 charges, but did not impose a sentence for his count of criminal sexual conduct–multiple acts over time.

Four of the charges will be served concurrently, the longest of which are 360 months. Suess Sr. will serve an additional 36 months consecutively, according to MCRO.

Suess Sr.’s defense moved for a 208-month sentence (about 17 years), while the prosecution requested a 724-month sentence (60 years), with all convictions served consecutively or one after another.

If the court chose not to run all the sentences consecutively, the state required a minimum sentence of 396 months (33 years).

(ABC 6 News) – A warrant was issued in Freeborn County Friday for 46-year-old David Bernard Suess Sr., after Suess Sr. failed to appear in court on charges of sexually abusing two Freeborn County children from 2011 to 2015.

According to a complaint warrant filed in early March, Suess Sr. is charged with four counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct–penetration between 2011 and 2014, and one count of criminal sexual conduct–multiple acts over time involving the first alleged victim, who was about 7 years old in 2011 and about 10 in 2014.

Suess Sr. faces another charge of 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct with a second alleged victim between 2014 and 2015.

The second child was about 11 in 2014, according to the complaint warrant.

The first alleged victim, now an adult, also told police Suess Sr. physically abused him and the second victim, according to court documents.

According to court documents, Suess Sr. moved to Lufkin, Texas and failed to appear in Freeborn County Court Thursday, March 30.

A warrant for his arrest was issued March 31.