Rochester Child Rapist Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Today was sentencing day for a Rochester man who was recently convicted of raping a young child.

34-year-old Quentin Townsell entered into a plea agreement earlier this month and admitted to a first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge using an Alford plea. That means he doesn't admit he's guilty but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict him of the crime. The plea deal called for a prison sentence of 16 1/2 years, which the judge followed at this morning's sentencing hearing.

The criminal complaint against Townsell alleged he sexually assaulted three young sisters, who ranged in age from 8 to 11 years old. the court document states that Rochester police opened an investigation into Townsell three years ago when the mother of the children reported that the two older girls had talked to her about conduct that "sounded like sexual penetration."

One of the girls, who was 10 years old at the time, told police that Townsell had been sexually abusing her for about two years. The oldest girl also told investigators about repeated sexual and physical assaults, including one incident during which Townsell choked her to the point she had trouble breathing and then slammed her head into a doorknob. The 8-year-old sister also spoke of repeated sexual assaults that occurred as often as several times a week.

Townsell was given credit for the 138 days he has already spent in jail, but he will also face ten years on parole after he is discharged from prison.