Crime & Safety

Man Charged with Soliciting Burnsville Teen for Sex

Mario Perez Contreras is accused of sending an explicit photo of himself to the 13-year-old victim on a cell phone that he provided to her.

A Bloomington man has been charged with soliciting a 13-year-old Burnsville girl for sex after police say he sent her a sexually explicit image on a cell phone that he had given to her.

Mario Perez Contreras, 20, faces a felony charge of solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Burnsville police were alerted in late August that a 13-year-old girl had received sexually explicit text messages and images on her cell phone from a 20-year-old acquaintance.

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The girl told police that Contreras had given her the cell phone so they could “communicate.” She said Contreras sent her a photo of his erect penis in August and asked her to send him a photo of herself naked, according to the complaint.

The girl told police that she had complied with Contreras’ request.

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Police interviewed Contreras, who admitted that he had given the girl the cell phone. He also admitted sending her the explicit photo and asking her to send one to him.

Contreras is scheduled to make a first appearance on the charge Jan. 23 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.


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