UPDATE: Verdict reached in sexual assault trial - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

UPDATE: Verdict reached in sexual assault trial

Posted:
By Brie Groves, Reporter - email
Eric Knutson Eric Knutson

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- A Rochester man was found guilty of first degree criminal sexual conduct and third degree assault involving a 2-year-old little girl. Both charges are felonies.

Closing statements from both parties sent the jury into deliberation on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the guilty verdict was in against 32-year-old Eric Knutson.

Knutson and the little girl's day care provider found evidence that there had been something serious going on with her. The daycare provider immediately called child protection. Soon the police were involved.

Knutson was interviewed by police multiple times, and actually told the police this was "no big deal." He also claimed to have taken the 2-year-old to the doctors, but it wasn't until the mother stepped in that the girl was seen.

Dr. Christopher Moir of Mayo Clinic said in his 23 years he has "never seen an injury as significant as this on someone as young as this." The 2-year-old had to have surgery.

Knutson is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 12, 2013.

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