A Minneapolis man forced his way into a woman’s apartment, sexually assaulted her and stole cash and marijuana after she returned home from errands.
The assault occurred Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the victim’s apartment in Minneapolis. Officers responded the next day after the victim reported the attack.
Melvin Lee Moffet, 34, faces two felony charges: 1st-degree burglary and criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree. The complaint, filed Friday in Hennepin County District Court, details the victim’s account and the evidence collected.
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According to court records, the victim told officers she encountered Moffet waiting outside her apartment after dropping the victim at the bus stop and running errands. She said she had not seen him for several months and told him she wanted nothing to do with him. As she unlocked her door, Moffet allegedly pushed her inside, entered without permission and closed the door behind him.
Inside the apartment, Moffet told the victim she was “his b****,” forcibly pulled down her pajama pants and sexually assaulted her. The victim said she repeatedly told him to leave and asked, “Are you really going to rape me right now?” Moffet replied, “Yes,” then forced her over the back of her couch, pinned her in place and sexually assaulted her.
The victim reported yelling for him to stop and physically resisting, at one point striking Moffet in the mouth with her elbow and causing his lip to bleed. Despite her efforts, Moffet continued the assault for several minutes.
After the assault, the victim said Moffet searched through her apartment and took cash and marijuana. Officers later collected the clothing the victim wore during the assault, which she said contained Moffet’s blood from the injury to his lip.
The victim underwent a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination, again describing how Moffet forced his way in, pinned her over the couch, ignored her demands to stop and sexually assaulted her. She reported pain to her neck, shoulders, back, abdomen and right arm. The nurse collected forensic swabs, and testing is underway.
The complaint states Moffet twisted the victim’s arm behind her back, pulled her hair, applied pressure to her neck and struck her head with his own during the assault. Due to the seriousness of the charges, prosecutors requested a warrant for Moffet’s arrest.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct statutes are organized by degree under § 609.342 (first), § 609.343 (second), § 609.344 (third) and § 609.345 (fourth). First-degree convictions carry up to 30 years in prison; the lower degrees carry penalties up to 25, 15 and 10 years respectively. Cases involving minors trigger additional mandatory-minimum provisions and predatory-offender registration under § 243.166.
Related MN CRIME Coverage
Man Faces Charges for Sexually Assaulting Sleeping Victim • Maple Grove Man Accused of Sexually Abusing Teen • Predatory Offender Charged with Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material in Minneapolis
Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
