Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting 2 Minors at Hugo Community Pool

Aug 1

A 44-year-old Hugo man is charged with sexually assaulting two minors at a community pool, with video and witness accounts backing the allegations filed Thursday in Washington County.

Jeremy John Miller is charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving juveniles under 18, with prosecutors alleging he used coercion and physical contact to assault a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy during an incident on July 28.

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He was arrested the following day after community members reported he had returned to the pool.

According to the complaint, deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the pool on the 15200 block of Farnham Avenue North in Hugo around 4:30 p.m. Monday after reports that an adult man had been touching kids inappropriately. Upon arrival, a deputy spoke with several juveniles who described the suspect as a Hispanic male in his 40s, with tattoos, wearing a dark blue shirt and blue shorts.

A 14-year-old girl told deputies that the man approached her during a game of “chicken” and asked her to get on his shoulders. She said he told her he was divorced and wanted a girlfriend, and said he should “pay her” while touching his genital area. She said the man had a “creepy” look when he said it. The girl reported that when the group started playing football in the water, the man went underwater and swam toward her. She tried to get away, but he grabbed her buttocks with both hands. She said he then came up behind her and touched her genital and waist area.

She swam to a friend and pushed him toward the suspect in an attempt to deflect the man’s attention, but he then grabbed her foot. She exited the pool and Miller allegedly followed her. The victim told the man to stop, but he responded by claiming he was trying to get his daughter and threw the girl back into the pool. Deputies reviewed surveillance footage from the pool, which reportedly shows the girl backing away from the man as he approaches her and then throwing her into the pool. A male friend who witnessed the incident told deputies the man had “more contact with her” than was appropriate.

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A 13-year-old boy told deputies he had also been touched by the suspect. He said that while he was playing with water guns, the man bear-hugged him from behind and worked his hands down his body, grabbing near his genitals. In a later interview, the boy said the man also grabbed his genitals several times during the football game, even after he told him to stop.

Adults at the pool described the man as acting creepy toward the kids and identified him as Miller. Deputies were unable to locate Miller on July 28 but arrested him on July 29 after receiving reports that he was back at the pool. Deputies say Miller agreed to speak with investigators and repeatedly claimed that he did not know if he had touched the girl inappropriately. He said that if he did, it was an accident.

A detective who reviewed the surveillance video said Miller was seen chasing the girl several times in the pool, including one instance where she kicked at him in an attempt to escape.

Miller made an initial court appearance on Thursday where bail was set at $20,000 with conditions. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.

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