Burnsville Man Charged with Sexual Assault at Apple Valley Health Club

A Burnsville man has been charged with criminal sexual conduct after police say he forced a woman to grab his genitals in a health-club hot tub earlier this month.

Sourisack Sihanantharath, 36, is charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a fitness club in Apple Valley on May 15.

The female victim told them that she first noticed Sihanantharath while she was stretching on mats in the facility’s gym, and said he was watching her in a way that made her uncomfortable.

Sihanantharath approached the woman and introduced himself as “Nuy,” then asked if she was single, the complaint says. The victim told him that it was none of his business, and walked away.

The woman said she went into the locker room so she could work out in the pool, and that Sihanantharath followed her into the pool area and continued trying to talk to her, asking her about her workout schedule, according to the complaint.

She continued to tell him that she didn’t want to speak to him, and she got out of the pool and into the hot tub.

Sihanantharath followed the victim into the hot tub and gradually slid over until he was sitting beside the woman, the complaint says. He grabbed hold of her wrist and forced her hand down his shorts and onto his genitals, according to the charges.

Sihanantharath then forced the woman onto his lap, holding her from behind in a bear hug hold, and tried to slide his hand beneath her swimsuit onto her breast, the complaint says. He also slid his hand into her swimsuit and touched her genitals, according to the complaint.

When Sihanantharath put the victim’s hand back onto his genitals, the woman squeezed very hard, causing him to let go of her, the complaint says.

The woman returned to the locker room and asked another woman to tell employees and call 911.

Police later spoke to Sihanantharath at his home, and he admitted the details in the incident, but said the woman initiated the sexual contact and that it was consensual, according to the complaint.