Man Accused of Raping Teen During High School Basketball Game

Saint Cloud, MN, USA / KNSI

Mar 4, 2021 | 4:15 PM

Stearns County Jail

(KNSI) – A 19-year-old is accused of raping a girl at knifepoint during a high school basketball game in St. Cloud.

According to the criminal complaint, a 15-year-old girl reported to a therapist she was assaulted by Robert Shannon Epps Jr. in December of 2019 at an Apollo High School basketball game.

The victim says sometime during the game; she went to the bathroom. She says she heard someone come into the bathroom shortly after she did, and the person shook her stall door.

Investigators say as the girl left the stall, Epps grabbed her by her sweatshirt, threw her against the stall, pulled out a pocket knife, and threatened to cut her.

The girl says she tried to resist but was overpowered.

Police met with the victim in April of 2020.

She says Epps and her went to the same school, and he had been harassing her. The girl says she thinks Epps wanted to date her, but she rejected him.

Epps was interviewed in May of 2020 and denied sexually assaulting the girl. He said the two met in the bathroom and kissed.

He’s been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

His next court hearing is set for April 13th.

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