County man charged with assault of child

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A Pierce County man was charged Wednesday in Pierce County Circuit Court with first degree sexual assault of a child.

David L. Vega, 39, is accused of committing the act more than 10 years ago. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 5.

According to the criminal complaint, Pierce County Sheriff’s investigators became aware of the allegations in June when Red Wing police began investigating a child abuse case from Minnesota authorities. Authorities told Red Wing police the victim, now 16, was sexually assaulted by Vega in 2002. It was later determined the alleged assaults happened in Pierce County, and not Red Wing.

Investigators found Vega, now living in River Falls, who confessed to the acts when he was living in Maiden Rock between December 2001-April 2002 before the victim was taken into protective custody by Goodhue County, Minn.

Vega explained the acts started because of personal problems--relationships with significant others, family and financial concerns. He said he started watching pornography before the abuse started as well. He estimated he molested the victim on less than 10 occasions.

He also talked about his sex addiction--he’s in sexual abuse therapy weekly and being a victim when he was a child between ages three to eight. He told investigators he is not attracted to children.

This isn’t Vega’s first sex charge; he pled guilty to two charges of fourth degree sexual assault in 2011 and is on probation for a third degree sexual assault charge in 2010. Both of those happened in Buffalo County.

The sexual assault of a child charge is a Class B felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 60 years if found guilty. He was also charged with misdemeanor fourth degree sexual assault.

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