A Hugo man was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct after Forest Lake police investigated claims that he’d molested a 3-year-old female relative.
Michael John Quesnel, 24, made his first court appearance for the charge on Feb. 1. According to court records, police began investigating Quesnel after receiving a report on Jan. 20 that the girl’s mother had taken her daughter to the doctor after the girl had exhibited bed wetting and several symptoms related to having pain in her genitals. Quesnel had been taking care of the girl during the day while the girl’s mother was at work, and the mother said she found searches for incest pornography on Quesnel’s phone.
During the investigation, police learned that the girl’s sister, now a teenager, also alleged that she had been molested by Quesnel between the ages of five or six years to 11.
Ultimately, police interviewed Quesnel, who allegedly admitted his guilt, saying that he didn’t know why he had “touched her.”
“It just happened,” he reportedly said. “I snapped.”
Records state that Quesnel relayed one incident specifically, saying that it had taken place a few weeks prior while he was watching the girl and an infant relative in an apartment in Forest Lake. As the girl was playing, Quesnel allegedly said he picked her up and sexually assaulted her.
During the interview, Quesnel also allegedly admitted to other sexual encounters with relatives. The maximum penalty of his charge is 25 years in prison, a $35,000 fine or both.