Rochester Sex Assault Trial Canceled by Last Minute Plea Deal

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A last minute plea agreement has led to the cancellation of a Rochester man's trial on a felony criminal sexual conduct charge.

The jury selection process for 35-year-old Tommy Tongsengzeng Yang’s trial was scheduled to begin this morning in Olmsted County Court. He was charged last year with third-degree criminal sexual conduct after a 15-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted.

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According to the criminal complaint, the girl told Rochester police that she was a participant in a community volleyball league organized by Yang. She alleged that the two exchanged text messages and eventually met in person. The charges alleged that Yang engaged in sexual activity with the girl in his vehicle on two occasions in May of last year.

The court document also indicated that Yang spoke with investigators and stated that he knew the victim from volleyball. He also told investigators that he hung out with her once at a baseball field, but denied having sex with the teenager or touching her inappropriately.

Under the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors exchanged the felony charge with a gross misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Court records show he has been sentenced to two years on probation and has been ordered to pay nearly $3400 in restitution.

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