Paynesville Woman Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Teenager

(KNSI) – A Stearns County woman who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenaged girl has been sentenced.

57-year-old Stacy Lee Row of Paynesville has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct. A criminal complaint says in April of 2019, police were made aware of a possible sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl. The alleged assault happened between July 2017 and April 2018.

In an interview with police, the girl said that Steven Dale Row touched her inappropriately and that Stacy Row forcibly performed sex acts on her. She told investigators that she didn’t want to participate in the sexual activity and that Steven Row told her “it was fine” and “OK” and that she “didn’t need to feel uncomfortable.” She said Steven told her not to tell anyone about what happened or “he would get in trouble.”

In a statement, Stacy Row told Paynesville police the girl was telling the truth and that she knew what they did was wrong. Stacy said both she and Steven regretted their actions.

Steven went missing in May of 2019 and his body was found in a car on some land in Meeker County in July of 2019.

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