RF man pleads guilty to repeated sexual assault

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A River Falls man pled guilty Thursday in Pierce County Circuit Court to repeated sexual assault of child, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of $100,000 and 40 years prison.

Matthew A. Bunnell, 27, was accused of committing three or more sexual assaults on a girl, now 15. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15.

According to the criminal complaint, the first alleged sexual contact occurred when Bunnell and the victim, who was 14, were on a camping trip. The two then had sexual relations for the first time at the girl's house in River Falls. It was repeated more than 10 times in the following months.

Both of the victim's parents became suspicious about the relationship between the two. Bunnell told the victim's mother nothing had happened.

The mother then asked the victim last December and she admitted to they had one sexual relationship. Three days later, she admitted to the other incidents with Bunnell.

Get the complete story in the July 16 print edition of the Pierce County Herald.

Tags: riverfalls, sexual, news, man, assault